Image: John Nott · Public domain
The Cooks and Confectioners Dictionary
- Year
- 1723
- Era
- 18th century
- Origin
- England · Europe
- Language
- English
- Category
- Specialist
The Cooks and Confectioners Dictionary, compiled by John Nott and first issued in 1723, organises receipts and culinary instruction in alphabetical form, an arrangement still uncommon for English cookery works of the period. Covering kitchen, still-room and confectionery practice together, it served as a practical reference for affluent households. Though overshadowed in later scholarship by contemporaries such as Eliza Smith and Hannah Glasse, it remains an under-recognised compendium of early Georgian cookery.
Cooking from this book
Orange Pudding
Signature dishAmong the many sweet confections gathered alphabetically in Nott's dictionary, the orange pudding stands out as emblematic of early Georgian English baking. A rich, buttery baked pudding scented with the peel and juice of Seville oranges, it captures the period's enthusiasm for citrus as both flavour and luxury import. Nott records several versions, reflecting his magpie approach of compiling variations from court and country kitchens, and showing why his under-recognised volume remains so useful to historians of taste.
An editorial note on a dish associated with this book, written for The Coquinist. It is not a reproduction of the book's recipe.
