What Heathcliff Ate

 There has been much said and written about the latest adaptation of Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights/ Director Emerald Fennell  has created lavish scenes , especially the dinner.s Yet what would have the hero - Heathcliff and his Cathy would have eaten? What do the people of Yorkshire eat now.

Yorkshire is one of the northern shires or counties of England. It has a rich literary history with the Bronte sisters,A none, Charlotte and Emily but also with James Herriot who wrote the charming book series "All Creatures Great And Small." (this last is about a vet in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales). Whitby was mentioned in Bram Stokers horror classic Whity , a coastal town at the county's most northeast corner. (n fact Trillo,s a seaside ice cream parlor serves its' famed "whippy black ice cream" in honor for the most famous vampire. It just vanilla ice cream mixed with edible charcoal to produce  a greyish black treat in a cone). Yorkshire is mostly farms. There are big cities like Leeds and Sheffield which is famous for it's cutlery (and the setting for the riotous British film of the late Nineties,  The Full Monty). Beef and pork are big , thanks to these farms and many dishes revolve around them. One the crispy  popover , Yorkshire pudding is made with beef dripping and served with a Sunday roast. it is perfect for  holding the accompanying gravy .

Yet the county , as with other English counties is also known for its' meat pies. Would Heathcliff and Cathy had eaten them had they been real propel? Possibly. There is a meat and tatie or potato pie. Shin beef is cut into piece and cooked with onions and potatoes. The meat also is cooked with water to create a stock for the pie and the whole thing is covered with a short crust pastry. Additional gravy is ladled on slices  of the pie. Ham cake is another meat pie or a giant pasty. Gammon or ham of a pig is wrapped up in a simple lard and flour pastry crust (think a Beef Wellington) It's baked and then cut into chunky pieces for either lunch or dinner. There is a season Coast here so fish is also on the menu. Yorkshire home chefs might make a fish roast for a Friday night. This is savory bread pudding with the addition of flaked white fish  and zinged up with nutmeg, ketchup and lemon. Parsley is sprinkled on top to give it some color. The province is known for it;s baking and there are plenty of gingerbread and apple pie (thanks to the orchards) recipes. Rhubarb  si also grown on the farms there and it figures hugely in tarts and pies too.

Would Heathcliff have appreciated all this food. Yes, It shows the abundance and traditions of the Dales. It may not be the fancy food for London but it is hearty and tasty.