A life as a Regula, in Belgium where she was born, must not have been easy. And so, Regula Ysewijn – graphic designer, photographer and international food blogger (with an immoderate passion for British cuisine) – explodes with joy when the first time we manage to pronounce her name of Latin origin correctly. The surname, however, we do not even try.
The book has just been released in Italy Downton Abbey. The official Christmas cookbook (Panini Comics, € 35), edited by her. Did you really try all the recipes?
«Of course yes, also because I had to adapt them to our times: the recipes of the past were very short, just ten lines ('take the chicken, clean the chicken, cook the chicken'), while today we need many more instructions.
I pass the pheasant soup and the duck with orange, but with the stuffed leg of mutton I find it a bit tough.
"Some are a bit complicated, it is true, especially for those unfamiliar with the kitchen. But there are also easier ones, suitable for everyone .
How come you, who are Belgian, have developed this passion for Great Britain?
"When I was little I used to listen to a little song that said" Black swan, white swan, let's go to England but England is closed because the key is broken "and I fantasized about this magical country where incredible things were happening. My mom also watched the BBC a lot and I saw pictures of castles, people in costume, just like Downton Abbey. I began to insistently ask my parents to go there, and at 9 they finally gave me a trip to Canterbury. Since then England has become my Disneyland. "
It has also become his Disneyland for cooking, yet the English one has no reputation for being the best in the world …
«Because English cuisine is not only that of London, where as in any big city you risk eating very badly, especially if you are a tourist. In Great Britain the best food is found in country pubs, where fresh and genuine ingredients are used, which have always been locally sourced. Some of the flavors I tried there, I only tried them there .
The book obviously speaks of the historical period in which it is set Downton Abbey, at the beginning of the twentieth century, but also of previous centuries. Staying in the culinary field, what is your favorite English historical period?
“What a good question! Obviously I found everything I discovered from my research interesting, but the period that I think is the most fascinating is the Victorian one, just before the era of Downton. This is the period in which Mrs Patmore (the cook of the Crawley family in the series, ed) and that is why in the book there are many recipes from those years. At that time, among other things, the recipes also concerned the popular classes, not just aristocrats. And interest grew again around Christmas, thanks to the success of To Christmas Carol by Dickens ".
In your opinion, used to be better or worse? In the book I read with amazement that a lot more vegetables were eaten.
«It's true, even if historically there aren't many recipes with vegetables, because it was thought that to cook them it was enough to boil them. Just during the era of Downton Abbeyinstead, the vegetarianism and many more recipes in this sense spread .
Let's imagine a nightmare: having Lady Violet a guest at our table. What should or shouldn't we prepare them, so as not to be detested?
“Something classic and traditional, possibly from the Victorian period and strictly English. Very British dishes, very twentieth century and maybe, just maybe, you could save yourself .
Regula Ysewijn's photo is by Bruno Vergauwen.
