Pride and Pudding – The history of British Puddings Savoury and Sweet takes you on a journey through the fascinating culinary past of Great Britain.
Published by Murdoch Books in Britain, Australia and New Zealand. Also available in a Dutch translation.
Pride and Pudding was selected as one of the best ‘Books of 2016’ by Sheila Dillon from the BBC Food Programme, Delicious Magazine, the Irish Times and the Guardian. It was also shortlisted for the prestigious Andre Simon Award and the Fortnum & Mason award. The book won the Gourmand World Cookbook Award for the UK, in the Food Heritage category.
Why this book?
Every book I write is about preserving a heritage, because in the present day far too much importance is given to new and exciting things while the past holds a treasure of beauty that is often forgotten. (See my other book Belgian Cafe Culture HERE)
Captivated by British cuisine – from its ancient savoury dishes such as the Scottish haggis to traditional sweet and savoury pies, pastries, jellies and ices, flummeries, junkets and jam roly-poly – I tell the story of British food, paying homage in particular to the great British pudding, which is versatile and wonderful in all its guises.
By tracing back to authentic cookery texts, the earliest of which dates from 14th century, I have re-created more than 80 recipes for the twenty-first century, and in the process I have rediscovered long-forgotten flavours and food fashions. I show you how pudding evolved over the centuries from being a savoury, often meat-based sausage-like dish, to the more dessert puddings we know today.
Pudding was so important in British culture that even foreign visitors wrote about them and British food, for example this one, by a French visitor in his diary:
“Blessed be he that invented pudding for it is a manna that hits the palates of all sorts of people…ah what an excellent thing is an English pudding.”
In the book I explore how religion and politics all influenced food and flavours, and how wartime shaped what British food is today.
Part food history and part recipe book, I tried to capture the essence of Britishness through its food, this is a different kind of cookbook.
It took me 2,5 years to complete the book, of which most of it was research.
It took me 2,5 years to complete the book, of which most of it was research.
The illustrations in the book are created by my husband and tell part of the stories, as do the photoghraphs which I have taken myself. I also designed the book, so as you can see this is a very personal project.
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To order online Amazon UK and Waterstones (I don’t receive any commission from sales by clicking) Or signed copies through email, see contact page
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Praise for Pride and Pudding
It’s a labour of love that revives your faith in cookbooks – erudite, original, beautifully written, gorgeously shot and styled – something you’ll definitely want to own and leaf through. If it doesn’t win one of next year’s food writing and/or photography prizes I’ll be amazed.
Fiona Beckett
award-winning food and wine writer. Wine columnist for The Guardian and the author of 23 books on food, wine and beer.
This is quite definitely the most beautiful food book I have ever seen.
Regula Ysewijn has the aesthetic eye of an Old Master and the intelligence and attention to detail of a well-read scholar.
Every page is a delight. I would never have believed that a prune tart or cabbage pudding could look so captivating. You will want to have Pride and Pudding on your bookshelves. Not only because is it an extraordinarily fine looking book thats a pleasure to handle and behold, but also because the contents are fascinating.
Pride and Pudding is an astonishing achievement from an exceptional writer.
Joanna Blythman
acclaimed journalist and author of 7 books, most recent: ‘Swallow this’
acclaimed journalist and author of 7 books, most recent: ‘Swallow this’
Cook favourite and maverick creative Regula Ysewijn, is set to publish her first book, Pride and Pudding, in April. What started out as a childhood hankering for traditional English fare has become an all-consuming social study of the historical treats of Britain. And this is the beautifully illustrated, hardbacked result. Ysewijn collected handwritten cookbooks and vintage pudding moulds. She researched the etymologies of our dish names and the chronologies of our tastebuds. Crucially, she cooked the ancient recipes she came across, photographing, in glorious , painterly detail, jaune manges and apple tansies and glimmery almond flummeries. What a beauty of a book this is.
The Guardian – Cook
A truly wonderful thing of beauty…a very tasty masterpiece’ – Jamie Oliver
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Where to find my book
The English version is available online: Amazon UK and Waterstones! (I don’t receive any commission from sales by clicking)
The Dutch book costs 35 euros + shipping cost. You can find it in bookstores in Belgium and Holland (not signed).
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We have created something special:
The Limited edition pack
The Limited edition package with handmade pudding basin, a signed book, card set and signed art print.
Another news is that I’ve been working on a little project with pottery artist Solomia Zoumaras to create a Pride and Pudding – pudding basin! We’re still trying out glazes and clays but we managed to get a good one out of the kiln to show to you lovely people! The cool thing is that on the outside the pudding basin is quite modern, but the inside has a different shape so that your christmas pudding will come out pudding-shaped! So here is the deal: There will be 25 pudding basins, handmade by Solomia and printed with a design from the book. These basins come with a signed book (Dutch or English) a card set designed by Bruno, and a signed art print of one of the illustrations.
Another news is that I’ve been working on a little project with pottery artist Solomia Zoumaras to create a Pride and Pudding – pudding basin! We’re still trying out glazes and clays but we managed to get a good one out of the kiln to show to you lovely people! The cool thing is that on the outside the pudding basin is quite modern, but the inside has a different shape so that your christmas pudding will come out pudding-shaped! So here is the deal: There will be 25 pudding basins, handmade by Solomia and printed with a design from the book. These basins come with a signed book (Dutch or English) a card set designed by Bruno, and a signed art print of one of the illustrations.
The limited edition costs 120 £ + shipping and contains*:
• A signed book – made out to whom you wish and personal message if you would like that
• The hand made pudding basin, designed by Solomia and I
• A card set with 5 cards (see below)
• A signed and numbered aprox. A5 size art print of one of the illustrations
• A signed book – made out to whom you wish and personal message if you would like that
• The hand made pudding basin, designed by Solomia and I
• A card set with 5 cards (see below)
• A signed and numbered aprox. A5 size art print of one of the illustrations
Status pre-order for Limited edition:
Available: 25 / Sold: 15
Available: 25 / Sold: 15
Payment possible with paypal : contact me for a shipping quote
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Some reviews:
in English:
The Guardian > (30/01/16)
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in Italian:
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in Polish:
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in Portuguese:
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in Dutch:
To see my other books see the books page, to order a limited or signed copy email me x
Regula Ysewijn is a food writer, stylist and photographer, with a particular interest in historical recipes. he is a Great Taste Awards judge and a member of The Guild of Food Writers, as well as one of the two judges on 'Bake Off Vlaanderen', the Belgian version of 'The Great British Bake-Off'. A self-confessed Anglophile, she collects old British cookbooks and culinary equipment in order to help with her research. She is the author of 5 books: Pride and Pudding the history of British puddings savoury and sweet, Belgian Café Culture, the National Trust Book of Puddings, Brits Bakboek and Oats in the North, Wheat from the South. 
So thrilled for you! And thrilled for me to get my hands on it! Will there be an American release?
Hi Amanda! Thank you very much! I absolutely hope their will be a US release! For now it’s Australia, New Zealand and Uk. Fingers crossed!
It looks SO awesome. Can’t wait to have it on my shelf. Have added to my wishlist on Amazon and will order as soon as someone is coming from UK. Might have to be in my Christmas stocking. I’ll get you to sign it next time I see you. What a jewel – and how brilliant to have that endorsement from Jamie. Well deserved.
Thank you so much Sally! It is very exciting to hold your own book! And yes, I am so so grateful that Jamie took the time even though he is such a busy bee 🙂
Thank you so much Sally! It is such a magical feeling to hold this book and I can’t wait for the English version to arrive! And yes I am so grateful Jamie took the time even though he is such a busy bee 🙂
I am so thrilled for you, and so excited by this book – its sounds EXACTLY what I love to read! Yahoo!
So lovely to hear!! Not long now until the English version comes out!!!
Congratulations Regula – a fabulous achievement and such beautiful photography as always, cant wait to get my copy once you have English versions. I wish you every success with your book – this is a labour of love!
Thank you Joanne, it has been a wonderful feeling to see it finished in both languages. Even if the English hasn’t arrived in my hands yet. 🙂
Congratulations! This is ON my amazon wishlist. ?
Thank you!
Regula,
Proficiat met je nieuwe boek! Het lijkt me écht met zoveel liefde samengesteld! De foto’s zijn prachtig, helemaal jouw stijl!
Ik volg al een tijdje je blog. Als echte foodie én Engeland lover staat je boek dan ook hoog op mijn verlanglijstje! De foto’s zien er prachtig uit, Het zou dan ook fantastisch zijn om er één te winnen! Begin volgend jaar wordt mijn Aga – fornuis geleverd, dus het zou super zijn daar een échte ‘pudding’ in klaar te maken!
Veel succes in alles wat je verder doet!
Groeten,
Isabel
Bedankt, dat is erg lief! Een AGA dat is natuurlijk mijn droom ook al héél lang, leuk zeg! Kan je zeker dingen van het boek perfect in klaarmaken!
Het Nederlandse boek werd herdrukt en was een tijdje niet verkrijgbaar dus de wedstrijd zal terug starten wanneer de Engelse er is. Als je de gelukkige bent dan mag je zelfs kiezen tussen een NL of EN boek!
x
Jaaaa, die puddings, voor die van over ‘t water ?toch een beetje een raar iets hé, maar dankzij jouw boek zijn wij vanaf nu helemaal mee en meer nog, toveren we zelf de mooiste en meest smaakvolle varianten op tafel…nog effe tijd om te oefenen en daarna iedereen van z’ sokken blazen met kerst!
Haha ja ze zijn wel merkwaardig die puddings! En zoals ik hierboven zei: het Nederlandse boek werd herdrukt en was een tijdje niet verkrijgbaar dus de wedstrijd zal terug starten wanneer de Engelse er is. Als je de gelukkige bent dan mag je zelfs kiezen tussen een NL of EN boek! Succes!
Het boek ziet er fantastisch uit! Weer een goede aanleiding alle oude keukenspullen te gebruiken. Proficiat met dit prachtige boek. Het staat op mijn verlanglijstje.
Dankjewel!!
Congrats;)) looks like a very good book, I can imagine it was a heavy work but as a good reader of your blog ç I can imagine its success! Really happy for you and for us. Next trip to England will have a bonus!
Thank you very much!!
Hello Regula! I just stumbled upon news of your gorgeous volume via an Instagram-er that I follow, Matt Inwood. Could you please tell me if the book will be made available in the U.S.? Thank you, and congratulations. Best, Kim
Hello Kim, thanks very much! I can’t say for sure, it’s quite early I think but maybe tweet or instagram @MurdochBooksUK and express your interest ;-))
Een Grote Proficiat !!!,,Regula !
TZiet er Echt ‘MarvelloUs , ExtraOrdinary Wonderful !!!!
Aanschaffen nu direct !
Beste Groeten , en nogmaals Proficiat !
dankje! Hopelijk vind je het boek leuk!
Hello 🙂 I’m a Polish blogger culinary and fell in love with your book and these forms to the pudding .
I would like to have the set: the book and form , these delicious recipes . This is my dream .? Will the book be used in Polish language … ?
Greetings from Poland 🙂
Hi Ola! Do email me about the set! And you never know the book might come out in Polish 🙂 Would be so cool!
It’s a stunning book. Lovely book to cook from, look at and read. I wish you continued success and see you real soon! Elinor X
thanks so much elinor!!
It’s utterly joyous. I received my copy today and have purchased enough double cream and tamarind to feed the whole town on your ice-cream recipe.
The black-ch=aps and almond flummeries and gorgeous steaming puds are next. Thank you and i will be reviewing the book on my site asap, after I have cooked from it. Thank you too, for the comprehensive bibliography and references. I hate it when books fail to include these when they were clearly borne out of study.
Thanks so much for buying the book Nicola! I hope your family will enjoy everything you cook from it! Do point me to your blog when you’ve posted about it, I can’t wait to read it!
Caps, not ‘chaps’, Apols.
Your book is an absolute delight! Some happy childhood memories from the 1940s in the very ‘English’ city of Christchurcg in New Zealand, came back to me on reading it. It is quite an inspiration to now cook and serve friends and family some of the sweet puddings that we so much enjoyed but which more recent generations have not even heard of.
Thank you for this ‘labour of love’. You have made something truly beautiful which has a value beyond food or cooking alone.
Regards and best wishes.
Laurence.
Thanks so very much for your kind words! And nice to discover English traditions in New Zealand! How lovely it must have been to grow up there!
Marvelous! I can’t wait to get my hands on your beautiful book.
One of my favorite puddings is the traditional Christmas pudding…
Cheers,
Rosa
Thank you Dear Rosa!! x
Ciao Regula! I know that I won’t surely be the first to tell you this, but your book is amazing. I gave it to myself as a Christmas present last year, but I didn’t get to properly read it until yesterday. It is not often that I cannot keep myself from expressing how thankful I am to a perfect stranger, but I really want to thank you: I feel British inside too, and I loved every page of your amazing work! And now I found out that you have also another book on Belgian Cafes… and I love Belgium also, because my dad worked there for some time when I was 15. Can’t wait to get my copy. Ok, just wanted to say Thanks!
Hi Monica, so glad you are enjoying the book and it is so kind of you to take the time to write to me. Hope it will continue to bring you joy and I hope Belgian Café Culture will do the same!
Hi Regula, i’ve Recently book you pr wonderful book and I am slightly confused by what you call raw sugar.. what do you mean? I’m stuck and confused! But I so love the book and am itichinb to make things form it, please can you help.?
Thanks
G.
Hello Georgina, Raw Cane Sugar is Demerara. Hope this helps! Happy reading and cooking!
Many thanks, currently steaming a spotted dick…