Let’s Party Like It’s 1599: A Shakespearean New Year’s Feast

What a perfectly Shakespearean way to ring out the old year and welcome the new! Let’s set the stage with a party spread drawn from by our fabulous Shakespeare inspired cookbook Much Ado About Cooking, fit for merrymakers ready to say, “Parting is such sweet sorrow” (Romeo & Juliet) to 2025 and, “Good dawning to thee, friend” (King Lear) to 2026!

Prologue: Enter guests with joy and excitement.

“Joy, gentle friends! Joy and fresh days of love accompany your hearts!” (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)

Cheese Fritters with Spiced Apple Sauce: Golden cottage cheese fritters, served with walnuts and spiced apple sauce on the side.

Salmon Pasties: Little pastry parcels filled with salmon and dates

Pair with A Wassail Warmer: Warm spiced mead with orange, lemon peel, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, and a splash of brandy. Garnish with roasted apple slices, rosemary sprigs and bay leaves.

Act I: Refreshing and light

“I shall hereafter, my thrice gracious lord, be more myself.” (Henry IV, part 1)

A Herby Pottage: A refreshing light barley soup, with garden herbs, watercress and spinach.

Manchet Bread: Soft white rolls, enriched with butter.

Pair with Titania's Tipple: Traditional mead with fresh lemon juice and thyme syrup.

Act II: Luxury from the sea

“I am fresh of spirit and resolved to meet all perils very constantly.” (Julius Caesar)

Baked Brill: A luxurious firm fish, oven baked and served with a white wine and butter sauce

Pickled Cucumber: Cucumber pickled with dill and fennel seed

Pair with Falstaff's Folly: Traditional mead, aquavit, a pinch saffron steeped in warm water and orange bitters. Serve chilled with a twist of lemon.

Act III: Rich and spiced.

“How high a pitch his resolution soars!” (Richard II)

Duck Breasts with Spiced Red Cabbage and Quince Sauce: This works well with goose in place of duck breast.

Walnut-Stuffed Cabbage: Succulent cabbage parcels stuffed with walnuts, almonds and raisins.

Timon’s Roots: Roasted root vegetables with garlic and spices

Spinach Salad with Currants

Pair with Lamb’s Wool: spiced ale or cider with a roasted apple float.

Act IV: Honey and almonds

“We know what we are, but know not what we may be.” (Hamlet)

Mistress Overdone’s Prunes with Roasted Almond Leach: a spiced, almond and honey pannacotta served with prune compote.

Marchpane: baked almond paste flavoured with rose water

Pair with Bottom's Befuddlement: Traditional mead with pear juice, lightly chilled.

Act V: Midnight chimes.

“The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve lovers, to bed. ’Tis almost fairy time.” (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)

White Biskit Bread: mini meringues flavoured with lemon and aniseed.

Wafers: flavoured with cinnamon and rosewater

Pair with Hippocras (Served Warm or Cold): Red wine infused with cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and honey.

Exit all with warmth and celebration (and rather tipsy!)

Happy New Year!

Recipes taken from Much Ado About Cooking by Sam Bilton. Get your copy here.