Dr Annie Gray, acclaimed food historian lecturer and author of culinary biography The Greedy Queen, to be released May 18th, will be stepping into York Mansion House’s Georgian kitchen to recreate some exciting historic recipes over a fire burning oven, spit and chafing stove.

The house is currently undergoing its biggest restoration since it was built. One of the exciting restoration projects is the Georgian kitchen which will help to illustrate three centuries of eating in the house and interpret and explore the lives of those who have worked there. This is a restored 18th century kitchen using original artefacts and architectural features, any modern recreations are made in the tradition manner, including bricks handmade from local clay.

Dr Annie Gray, food historian, author, lecturer and broadcaster, commented, ‘I’m really looking forward to cooking in the revamped York Mansion House kitchens. I’ve watched their metamorphosis back in time from an unloved 1960s basement, to the glories of the 18th century – one of the most exciting periods in British history. The technology of food has enormous potential to help tell the story of society though history, and the York Mansion House kitchens will showcase the way in which York’s mayor’s worked to make the city one of the social centres of Georgian Britain.’

Annie Gray will be the first person to undertake the task of cooking in York Mansion House’s Georgian kitchen after its restoration. She will be demonstrating how to cook beef alamode and woodcocks in a traditional 18th century manner as a way to explore the social history of the house.

Richard Pollitt, York Mansion House Curator said, ‘We are delighted Annie Gray will be coming to York Mansion House and we are looking forward to seeing the restored kitchen in full use as she recreates the recipes this kitchen was built to cook. I couldn’t think of anyone more suited to inaugurate York Mansion House’s Georgian kitchen’.

The Opening Doors Restoration project for York Mansion House was made possible by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, funding from City of York Council and a variety of grants and generous donations totalling £2.1 million. The project improves the visitor experience by beautifully restoring this gem of York’s architectural history, allowing more people than ever to enjoy it.