Today is Saint-Nicholas day. Sinterklaas visits children in many cultures and has been an ever-evolving feast from its inception. Shaped by societal changes, the figure of the saint and his companion have taken on many forms throughout history and the feast continues to evolve. - pics are my own

Lecture at the Plantin Moretus Museum with a tasting of a 17th century almond tart. Details below!

A TV channel invited me on Insta to collab on a post I was metioned in so I did but boy wasn’t I prepared for all the trolling and negativity that flooded into my inbox. I cancelled the collab, all upset and made my own post which is getting kind and loving comments, so grateful for my own community

New addition to my collection! German handwritten cookbook with date 1886. Name and address in the pages but haven’t been able to decipher.

Someone doesn’t appreciate my acknowledgment of the dark history of sugar at the start of my book about historical and traditional British baking and left this review on the German Am-azon. Wait until she finds out all my books start with this “moral index finger”!

A British magazine contacting me to “offer” to promote my books in their “highly anticipated” Christmas gift guide. He goes on: “While our standard full-page rate card is £2,000 + vat, this special section is just £400 + vat for a third of a page…”

I’m writing down my trauma and suddenly I am at 10.000 words. Here’s to the next 10K because I am not done yet. And no, I am not writing a book, this is purely therapeutic.

I am a witch and proud of it.

I have just put for sale: Books about Rubens - Rare set of 5 L'oevre de P.P. Rubens, Max Rooses Published in Antwerp 1890 Max Rooses was the first curator of the Museum Plantin-Moretus, a renowned expert on Rubens. Let me know if anyone is interested (2027 will be the Rubens Year). Price neg.

Another cookery manuscript I can’t afford to buy for research because someone with deep pockets keeps outbidding everyone. I just hope it will go to someone who will take care of it and leave it to a heritage library in their last will.

My latest column has published over at Scribehound Food, a new platform bringing together 30 fantastic food writers! You can subscribe now for just 1£ the first month! You get an article a day and a wondeful archive of articles to pick and choose from! join.scribehound.com/food?ref=sha...

I’d love to work in a museum, but high educational requirements close the door to my application as I am in nearly everything autodidact. The ironic thing is I do get freelance assignments from museums… I can actually bring in people.

Thanks @nicmiller.bsky.social! Be sure to subscribe to her newsletter! And if you’re considering buying this book… the new edition from 2022 has a red cover ❤️

A very special evening in Antwerp! Excited to be talking to Sami!

I turned to twitter today for the first time in ages to address a Belgian politician who like Trump and Dutch politicians want to… Ban the anti-fasism movement ‘Antifa’. The world is going more crazy and dangerous every day. We’re back in the 1930’s.

TALK @ Kunstmuseum Den Haag (NL) 05 oktober 2025 - 14:00h - tickets: www.kunstmuseum.nl/nl/bezoek/ac...

Tomorrow at museum Plantin Moretus a taste of a 17th century pie from the records of one of the Plantin women. Do check out the new expo about the women who lived in the famous printing house. I’ll be there at 12 tomorrow!

My latest column: How Traditional Embroidery Weaves Together Food, Culture, and Identity From Ukrainian corn fields to Palestinian olive groves, these textiles connect people to place, to each other, and to their past. www.scribehound.com/food/history...

I just closed about 60 internet windows on my laptop and now need a lie down… what if I closed something I still needed?! Some had been open for at least a year 😅

Fairytale-like, found this for sale at Abe! Printed in 1510 it is the earliest printed story of Cinderella, here she is pictured in the kitchen. Written by Johannes Geiler Von Keysersberg, printed by Mattias Schürer in Strasburg. Binding is pigs skin according to the seller. If I had 20.000 euros…

My latest column: Edible Illusions: The Inventive Spectacle of Medieval Cuisine. You can read it or listen to me read it out to you! www.scribehound.com/food/history...

I’m applying for a literary grant to help fund research/writing for my next book. In my application I have to convince the board that my books (combination of culinary history, art history, memoir and historical recipes) are in fact a work of “literature”. My last book was 100K words.

Today Plantin Moretus Museum picked up my antique Belgian waffle iron. It is officially the most comfortable waffle iron in the world, being transported on a bed of pillows. Something interesting is coming to the museum very soon! (Why is there no Belgian waffle emoji?!) 🧇

New free newsletter post: A little fishing boat needs your help! open.substack.com/pub/regulays...

So many errors in this article about puddings, most of the foods mentioned aren’t even actual puddings. I should know, I wrote the book on the subject, I even wrote two. I guess this is more an ad for English Heritage but still. Puds aren’t dead! www.theguardian.com/food/2025/au...

A story from Bethlehem, a first hand account: open.substack.com/pub/suequinn...

My new column for Scribehound Food, you can choose to read but you can also listen to it as we all record our articles! Scoop into History: From Penny Licks to Waffle Cones www.scribehound.com/food/discove...

Yesterday I was in Amsterdam for the award ceremony of the Joop Witteveen prize for culinary history achievements in the Netherlands and Flanders. My book didn’t win but the winner (De verstandige kock) is very worthy indeed. These were the 3 shortlisted books

My latest column is live: a look at the history of bread adulteration. To read and subscribe www.scribehound.com/food/history...

It was really upsetting this week when a group of people (including a doctor) were judgemental about my choice to take medication for my ADHD. I’m guessing they don’t understand neurodivergence and think I’m taking the “easy” route. I can tell you there is nothing easy about finding the right meds.

Thanks @jaketilson.bsky.social very proud of this book and very sad it has now gone out of print!

Happy Easter! In Britain Hot Cross buns are baked, but traditionally they are baked on Good Friday. Legend says that a bun baked on Good Friday will never grow mouldy. I tried it, it’s true! 😉 I have a recipe in my book ‘Oats in the North, Wheat from the South’ The British Baking Book’ in the US 💛

Our story includes a traditional recipe by @regulaysewijn.bsky.social

My first column for @scribehound_food was published today! “Architectural Feasts: A Journey Through Centuries of Dining” explores how the way we serve dinner has evolved over the centuries—from grand medieval banquets to today’s small plates. Subscribe to read: www.scribehound.com/food/history...

Honestly the best and prettiest pots, pans and other cookware and a truly wonderful family company. If you are planning to replace your non-stick PFAS pans, check them out. Worldwide shipping without any customs duties. My parcel of new goodies arrived today to add to my collection.

Today is Ash wednesday and the first day of Lent. On this day Catholics receive an ash cross on the forehead in mass. In the city of Antwerp this day is also observed by eating “Pruimenvlaai” prune tart. Prunes are considered cleansing, the black colour is also often linked to the ash. Image my own.

While today in the UK it’s “Pancake day” in Belgium today is “Fat tuesday” the last day before Lent. In the town of Binche the Carnival is at its height and the “Gilles”, harlequin-like figured are marching through town handing out oranges and feasting on oysters for lunch. Photos own collection.

If you do not understand whats happening between russia And Ukraine then please pre-order my book, bcs obviously nothing comes out of thin air www.waterstones.com/book/strong-...

The wonderful places my neurodivergent brain takes me when I get distracted… 13th century Arabic facsimile recipes. I can’t remember why I ordered the book last week, but it must have had a reason, apart from it being interesting to have in my bookcase. Searching my 50 open tabs for clues, as usual.

Today is the day of the saint Apollonia or the “toot ache saint”. The day is celebrated in the village of Elst in Flanders by baking “Geutelingen”. Spongy pancakes that can only be made in an oven that can reach 400 celcius. In the past people would carry their batter to the village oven to be baked

Today is “Maria Lichtmis” or Candlemass. While a Catholic day, in today’s secular culture in Belgium this means pancake day! A saying goes: On Candlemass no woman is too poor to warm her pan. (It sounds better in Flemish Dutch). The pancake baker by Gabriël Metsu (1629–1667) a Dutch Catholic.

I’m talking real Regency versus Bridgerton’s on the radio soon!

Anyone here from Liege University? I need to consult a book in their library but of course do not have the Uni login… Challenging to do research when not affiliated to a University, it’s a firmly closed door.

The lovely Celia from San Francisco’s gem of a cookbook store had joined this space! Also interesting if you’re after the odd vintage or antiquarian cookbook!

Antiquarian book arrived from France, so tightly wrapped with duct tape in a box that is possibly only millimetres larger than the book. I’ll have to peel away layer after layer of tape in order not to damage the book inside. I must admit I did make one regrettable cut into the box…I’ll sleep on it.

It’s Burns Night tonight, a celebration of the life and poetry of Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759 – 1796). A Burns supper is held and for dinner traditionally a Haggis is prepared. Here a recipe from my newest old book by Mrs Frazer (yes, Outlander fans, you read it right), Edinburgh 1795

I feel very unenthusiastic about Sub stack… I started it 2 years ago but it feels very much like investing in another platform that can easily turn sour when ownership changes or whatever. I am considering just moving back to my website, investing in my own thing. Have any of you thought the same?

Someone has been baking from my book on Belgian baking! Piotten buns from Antwerp and stuffed speculaas.

Today is “Verloren Maandag” or “Lost Monday” in Antwerp, my home town. Today we eat sausage bread and apple balls. The general theory is that today the dock workers got free drinks from their foremen and café landlords offered free sausage breads from cheap meat to make them drink more. 1/2