Ben Smolders
@smolders.bsky.social
Beardy man, tries to be funny and interesting while cooking.
www.intaberna.co.uk
www.intaberna.co.uk
Reposted by Ben Smolders
New video! Today we have a look at what the poor were able to eat in Victorian England. In order to properly experience it, our cook lived on a workhouse diet for two full weeks.
youtu.be/41jPgszMhXo
#history #britishhistory #foodhistory
youtu.be/41jPgszMhXo
#history #britishhistory #foodhistory
Would you Survive the Victorian Workhouse?
YouTube video by History In Taberna
youtu.be
December 4, 2025 at 4:00 PM
New video! Today we have a look at what the poor were able to eat in Victorian England. In order to properly experience it, our cook lived on a workhouse diet for two full weeks.
youtu.be/41jPgszMhXo
#history #britishhistory #foodhistory
youtu.be/41jPgszMhXo
#history #britishhistory #foodhistory
Reposted by Ben Smolders
One of the most daring acts of corporate espionage happened halfway through the 19th century. An agent of the East India Company was sent to China to steal the secret of tea. In our latest video we see whether or not he pulled it off.
youtu.be/V3RqsFIPVw8
youtu.be/V3RqsFIPVw8
How Britain Stole China's Tea
YouTube video by History In Taberna
youtu.be
November 13, 2025 at 4:01 PM
One of the most daring acts of corporate espionage happened halfway through the 19th century. An agent of the East India Company was sent to China to steal the secret of tea. In our latest video we see whether or not he pulled it off.
youtu.be/V3RqsFIPVw8
youtu.be/V3RqsFIPVw8
Reposted by Ben Smolders
We promised that we'd make a video on the history of the pizza in America if enough people asked for it.
Well, you did and this is that video. How America changes the pizza! Little spoiler: it's not just the United States!
Go have a watch! #foodhistory #pizza #america
youtu.be/E7umXRbkZTc
Well, you did and this is that video. How America changes the pizza! Little spoiler: it's not just the United States!
Go have a watch! #foodhistory #pizza #america
youtu.be/E7umXRbkZTc
Americans did THIS to Pizza!
YouTube video by History In Taberna
youtu.be
October 16, 2025 at 3:01 PM
We promised that we'd make a video on the history of the pizza in America if enough people asked for it.
Well, you did and this is that video. How America changes the pizza! Little spoiler: it's not just the United States!
Go have a watch! #foodhistory #pizza #america
youtu.be/E7umXRbkZTc
Well, you did and this is that video. How America changes the pizza! Little spoiler: it's not just the United States!
Go have a watch! #foodhistory #pizza #america
youtu.be/E7umXRbkZTc
Reposted by Ben Smolders
In case you missed it!
A new video has been up since Thursday. This one is on when the people of The Hague decided to have Grand Pensionary for dinner.
Did the Dutch eat their prime minister? sort of, kinda... in a way... they did!
youtu.be/S5GZgsNQ0LQ
A new video has been up since Thursday. This one is on when the people of The Hague decided to have Grand Pensionary for dinner.
Did the Dutch eat their prime minister? sort of, kinda... in a way... they did!
youtu.be/S5GZgsNQ0LQ
The Day the Dutch ate their Prime Minister
YouTube video by History In Taberna
youtu.be
September 22, 2025 at 10:14 AM
In case you missed it!
A new video has been up since Thursday. This one is on when the people of The Hague decided to have Grand Pensionary for dinner.
Did the Dutch eat their prime minister? sort of, kinda... in a way... they did!
youtu.be/S5GZgsNQ0LQ
A new video has been up since Thursday. This one is on when the people of The Hague decided to have Grand Pensionary for dinner.
Did the Dutch eat their prime minister? sort of, kinda... in a way... they did!
youtu.be/S5GZgsNQ0LQ
Reposted by Ben Smolders
In 1861 Isabella Beeton published "Beeton's Book of Household Management". This book went on to become an empire with various "Mrs Beeton" book being publish all the way into the 21st century.
However, the original publication holds a dark secret.
youtu.be/NhH5ws8rneg
However, the original publication holds a dark secret.
youtu.be/NhH5ws8rneg
The Great Victorian Recipe Theft!
YouTube video by History In Taberna
youtu.be
August 14, 2025 at 3:02 PM
In 1861 Isabella Beeton published "Beeton's Book of Household Management". This book went on to become an empire with various "Mrs Beeton" book being publish all the way into the 21st century.
However, the original publication holds a dark secret.
youtu.be/NhH5ws8rneg
However, the original publication holds a dark secret.
youtu.be/NhH5ws8rneg
Reposted by Ben Smolders
Monday is "quatorze juillet" known in the English speaking world as "Bastille Day" or simply the French national holiday. To commemorate this we're digging up a story about one of the France's icons of gastronomy, the vol-au-vent.
youtu.be/_AhN3O8DezU
youtu.be/_AhN3O8DezU
The French Pastry Tower Built on Lies!
YouTube video by History In Taberna
youtu.be
July 10, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Monday is "quatorze juillet" known in the English speaking world as "Bastille Day" or simply the French national holiday. To commemorate this we're digging up a story about one of the France's icons of gastronomy, the vol-au-vent.
youtu.be/_AhN3O8DezU
youtu.be/_AhN3O8DezU
Reposted by Ben Smolders
I obviously can't speak for other jews, but to me the world's richest man tweaking his AI so that it now describes things it doesn't like on a scale of "bagel to full Shabbat" and "Peak Jewish" is a somewhat higher priority than people being mean about the IDF at Glasto.
In case you're think Grok isn't being blatantly antisemitic, here's a few more posts from Grok on this topic.
July 8, 2025 at 9:37 PM
I obviously can't speak for other jews, but to me the world's richest man tweaking his AI so that it now describes things it doesn't like on a scale of "bagel to full Shabbat" and "Peak Jewish" is a somewhat higher priority than people being mean about the IDF at Glasto.
Reposted by Ben Smolders
Today, we head to Liverpool to taste some scouse and ask the question "what is scouse actually?" #foodhistory
youtu.be/nbdoSwtCtyM
youtu.be/nbdoSwtCtyM
Why are Liverpool people called Scouse?
YouTube video by History In Taberna
youtu.be
June 19, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Today, we head to Liverpool to taste some scouse and ask the question "what is scouse actually?" #foodhistory
youtu.be/nbdoSwtCtyM
youtu.be/nbdoSwtCtyM
Reposted by Ben Smolders
New video up now. We're going after the pizza.
This will end well... #pizza #foodhistory
youtu.be/gs9Y6Po-EMc
This will end well... #pizza #foodhistory
youtu.be/gs9Y6Po-EMc
Is Pizza really more American than Italian?
YouTube video by History In Taberna
youtu.be
May 29, 2025 at 3:02 PM
New video up now. We're going after the pizza.
This will end well... #pizza #foodhistory
youtu.be/gs9Y6Po-EMc
This will end well... #pizza #foodhistory
youtu.be/gs9Y6Po-EMc
Reposted by Ben Smolders
Our latest video is now up. The history of the sandwich: How much gambling did the old earl really do?
#foodhistory #history #cooking
youtu.be/qObyDgJOzpc
#foodhistory #history #cooking
youtu.be/qObyDgJOzpc
You were told LIES about the History of the Sandwich
YouTube video by History In Taberna
youtu.be
April 10, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Our latest video is now up. The history of the sandwich: How much gambling did the old earl really do?
#foodhistory #history #cooking
youtu.be/qObyDgJOzpc
#foodhistory #history #cooking
youtu.be/qObyDgJOzpc
@gunnerblog.bsky.social @arseblog.com Looking forward to a very Goodly Morning tomorrow!
February 2, 2025 at 8:20 PM
@gunnerblog.bsky.social @arseblog.com Looking forward to a very Goodly Morning tomorrow!
Last night was fun. We won!
January 23, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Last night was fun. We won!
Reposted by Ben Smolders
It's the most wonderful time of the year (according to some) so that calls for a brand new video. Why do we (we being some English speaking countries) like plum pudding for Christmas? youtu.be/qv4CS7QpJSY #foodhistory #toomanycaveats
Christmas Pudding History: the REAL reason it's eaten at Christmas!
YouTube video by History In Taberna
youtu.be
December 19, 2024 at 4:01 PM
It's the most wonderful time of the year (according to some) so that calls for a brand new video. Why do we (we being some English speaking countries) like plum pudding for Christmas? youtu.be/qv4CS7QpJSY #foodhistory #toomanycaveats
Reposted by Ben Smolders
It's only a little bonus video but they still count. youtu.be/eYvYhEN-gMQ
Can You REALLY Make Crispy Croissants at Home?
YouTube video by History In Taberna
youtu.be
November 14, 2024 at 4:26 PM
It's only a little bonus video but they still count. youtu.be/eYvYhEN-gMQ
Reposted by Ben Smolders
This month's video in about croissants. That should be enought to get you to click right? No? Okay! We explain where it actually came from. Now go watch!
youtu.be/KknKJSahJL8
youtu.be/KknKJSahJL8
The Original Croissant Recipe - Was it Austrian?
YouTube video by History In Taberna
youtu.be
October 24, 2024 at 3:03 PM
This month's video in about croissants. That should be enought to get you to click right? No? Okay! We explain where it actually came from. Now go watch!
youtu.be/KknKJSahJL8
youtu.be/KknKJSahJL8
Tomorrow is a Friday the 13th so make sure nothing bad happens! In order to help we’ve looked at 13 food myths and superstitions.
youtu.be/TyJ5P9ezpfM
youtu.be/TyJ5P9ezpfM
Over 13 Food Myths and Superstitions Explained and Graded
YouTube video by History In Taberna
youtu.be
September 12, 2024 at 3:01 PM
Tomorrow is a Friday the 13th so make sure nothing bad happens! In order to help we’ve looked at 13 food myths and superstitions.
youtu.be/TyJ5P9ezpfM
youtu.be/TyJ5P9ezpfM
As promised, two videos in the months of June. After learning about puff pastry last week we turn to the Maid of Honour tart this week. This treat is surrounded by many stories so we ask if any of them are true. #foodhistory #maidofhonour #historyintaberna
youtu.be/KPA3r70MEWE
youtu.be/KPA3r70MEWE
youtu.be
June 27, 2024 at 3:02 PM
As promised, two videos in the months of June. After learning about puff pastry last week we turn to the Maid of Honour tart this week. This treat is surrounded by many stories so we ask if any of them are true. #foodhistory #maidofhonour #historyintaberna
youtu.be/KPA3r70MEWE
youtu.be/KPA3r70MEWE
We're back and we've been making dough. Not just any dough but puff pastry dough! Do use a plate because the crumbs will get everywhere!
youtu.be/Upcokb3vbQs
youtu.be/Upcokb3vbQs
Puff Pastry History - Where is it actually from?
Puff pastry is French right? Well, there might be a bit more to it. Find out the fascinating history and origin of puff pastry in this video! Learn where this flaky pastry actually comes from and how it has evolved over the centuries. From Ancient Balkan roots to Medieval Andalucia and finally to the key element in French cuisine it is today. Footage used (in order of appeance): French Cooking Academy - https://youtu.be/CqJA8KbmqB4?si=oZzmUAqvrWJxwrkG Joshua Weissman - https://youtu.be/5C0QU5xrAi4?si=qbHTBX2D55aAVXP- Business Insider - https://youtu.be/hapSlAP2xrc?si=Wyt6frgvbZsqWNQj Food Wishes - https://youtu.be/bFtDkG74l9w?si=ccDJCvBKJHuWooXc Tasting History with Max Miller - https://youtu.be/giPXpKy2lQ0?si=KW2M0Sp5qjfNagM- Our website: www.intaberna.co.uk Sources and literature: https://bitterbutter.org/2017/11/14/who-really-invented-puff-pastry/ https://bitterbutter.org/2017/11/17/who-really-invented-puff-pastry-part-2/ https://wellcomecollection.org/works/cdgeg73r - The notes of Hannah Bisaker https://coquinaria.nl/en/glasse-puff-pastry/ http://www.foodsofengland.co.uk/book%201615%20huswife.htm https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anciennes_unit%C3%A9s_de_mesure_fran%C3%A7aises http://www.theoldfoodie.com/2013/03/making-pastry.html https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=eebo;idno=A06924.0001.001 https://jamieschler.substack.com/p/pate-feuilletee https://numelyo.bm-lyon.fr/f_view/BML:BML_00GOO0100137001101767718/IMG00000174 https://www.oldcook.com/medieval-lancelot_de_casteau https://numelyo.bm-lyon.fr/f_view/BML:BML_00GOO0100137001101767718/IMG00000175# https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=eebo;idno=A06924.0001.001 http://www.historicalcookingproject.com/2014/09/lancelot-de-casteau-nous-ouvre-sa.html https://www.musee-gourmandise.be/fr/musee-gourmandise/articles-de-fond?view=article&id=122:lancelot-de-casteau&catid=77:articles-fond https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo2/A09713.0001.001?rgn=main;view=fulltext https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_delightes-for-ladies-_platt-sir-hugh_1632 Anonymous Andalucian cookbook - http://www.daviddfriedman.com/Medieval/Cookbooks/Andalusian/andalusian_contents.htm L'ouverture de Cuisine - Lancelot de Casteau Delights for Ladies - Sir Hugh Platt Francois-Pierre de La Varenne - Le Cuisinier Francois (12e edition) Flag asset: France Flag Stock Videos by Vecteezy https://www.vecteezy.com/free-videos/france-flag Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 00:30 - What is puff pastry? 01:11 - Where to start? 02:28 - All the way back 03:50 - The long way round! 04:18 - The first puff 06:35 - Lancelot's pasties 08:25 - Platt's puff 10:40 - Things to come! 11:12 - Are we in France yet? 12:20 - Waves of butter!
youtu.be
June 20, 2024 at 3:03 PM
We're back and we've been making dough. Not just any dough but puff pastry dough! Do use a plate because the crumbs will get everywhere!
youtu.be/Upcokb3vbQs
youtu.be/Upcokb3vbQs
Today, we set out on a character study for the first time. We look at the culinary preferences of the greatest composter of the 19th century: Ludwig Van Beethoven.
youtu.be/BDBOb1mWAwM
youtu.be/BDBOb1mWAwM
Cooking for Beethoven
What was it like to be Ludwig Van Beethoven's housekeeper? We travelled back in time to try and find out. Join us as we make his weekly regular and his favourite comfort food while exploring how he was to live with and how we know all these things. Special thanks to Chris M for portraying Beethoven's dinner guest. Our other mentioned videos: https://youtu.be/-UaX2GLHg5M (for the shellfish butter recipe) https://youtu.be/gktcVMf8w6k (our Marie-Antoinette video) Literature and sources: Various Authors compiled by Oscar Sonneck 1926 (ed.1998), Beethoven Impression By His Contemporaries. Ignaz Gartler, Wienerisches bewährtes Kochbuch 1619 (and later editions) Martella Gutiérrez-Denhoff, Die Gute Kocherey, 2008 Beethoven: The Man, The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular, Vol. 28, No. 530 (Apr. 1, 1887) The letters by Ludwig Van Beethoven as found on Project Gutenberg Various authors,1951, Beethoven: Letters, Journal and conversations edited and translated by Michael Hamburger. Anton Felix Schindler ed. Donald MacArdle ed. 1996, Beethoven, As I knew him. Anton Felix Schindler, 1840, Biographie von Ludwig van Beethoven. Mit dem Portrait Beethovens und 2 Facsimiles, Münster: Aschendorff https://digital.staatsbibliothek-berlin.de Jan Swafford, Beethoven: Anguish and Triumph. 2014 https://internet.beethoven.de https://www.digital.wienbibliothek.at Standley Howell, Beethoven's Maelzel Canon. Another Schindler Forgery?; William S. Newman, Yet Another Major Beethoven Forgery by Schindler? Peter Stadlen, Schindler's Beethoven Forgeries. Theodore Albrecht, Anton Schindler as Destroyer and Forger of Beethoven's Conversation Books: a case for decriminalisation. https://unheardbeethoven.org/ (a crucial guide to navigate Beethoven's conversation books) https://aconyc.org/aco-journal-11/ https://www.ajvar.nl/beethoven/aan_tafel_met_beethoven/ Chapters: 00:00 - Overture 00:30 - First Movement: Bread soup 01:30 - Second Movement: She ran away 03:20 - Third Movement: Beethoven's dinner party 04:25 - Fourth Movement: The search for comfort food 05:38 - Fifth Movement: Beethoven's finances 06:25 - Intermezzo: A personal message 07:05 - Sixth Movement: We need to talk about Schindler 11:50 - Seventh Movement: Mise-en-place 16:50 - Eight Movement: By the book 17:11 - Ninth Movement: Our way Website: www.intaberna.co.uk #foodhistory #beethoven #classicalmusic
youtu.be
April 25, 2024 at 3:01 PM
Today, we set out on a character study for the first time. We look at the culinary preferences of the greatest composter of the 19th century: Ludwig Van Beethoven.
youtu.be/BDBOb1mWAwM
youtu.be/BDBOb1mWAwM
Easter is just around the corner and we hope the bunny has laid some eggs... hang on... when did rabbits start laying eggs? All this and more in our latest video, up now.
youtu.be/81wb5VfunrU
youtu.be/81wb5VfunrU
Why does a BUNNY bring us coloured EGGS for Easter?
Easter eggs are more than just little jokes in video games. They're among the oldest surving traditions still observed to date and we wondered how we got her...
youtu.be
March 28, 2024 at 4:00 PM
Easter is just around the corner and we hope the bunny has laid some eggs... hang on... when did rabbits start laying eggs? All this and more in our latest video, up now.
youtu.be/81wb5VfunrU
youtu.be/81wb5VfunrU
Biscoff, are we supposed to call it speculoos or speculaas? Where does it come from? Why is it shaped like a bishop and how does this bishop help me get a wife?
All this is will be answered in our latest video which you can watch here: youtu.be/YIW9tBmJtDY
All this is will be answered in our latest video which you can watch here: youtu.be/YIW9tBmJtDY
Biscoff - How it went from Medieval Matchmaker to Instagram Baker
Lotus Biscoff: is it speculaas or speculoos? Where did these biscuits even come from? Well, do we have the video for you. We're going to explain where the li...
youtu.be
February 15, 2024 at 4:02 PM
Biscoff, are we supposed to call it speculoos or speculaas? Where does it come from? Why is it shaped like a bishop and how does this bishop help me get a wife?
All this is will be answered in our latest video which you can watch here: youtu.be/YIW9tBmJtDY
All this is will be answered in our latest video which you can watch here: youtu.be/YIW9tBmJtDY
Final episode in the Road to Ramen (for real this time). This video explains how ramen used to be illegal and how they got their name.
#foodhistory #ramen
youtu.be/i7cJCw2hb2I
#foodhistory #ramen
youtu.be/i7cJCw2hb2I
Why do we call Ramen... Ramen? | History of Ramen
In this final episode we tell the story of when ramen were illegal and the yakuza were involved. Along the way we'll discover how ramen got their present-day...
youtu.be
February 1, 2024 at 4:12 PM
Final episode in the Road to Ramen (for real this time). This video explains how ramen used to be illegal and how they got their name.
#foodhistory #ramen
youtu.be/i7cJCw2hb2I
#foodhistory #ramen
youtu.be/i7cJCw2hb2I
We've reached the big one. The story of ramen! how did it come to Japan and how did we get tonkotsu ramen?
youtu.be/8GPELqzelTI
youtu.be/8GPELqzelTI
January 25, 2024 at 4:02 PM
We've reached the big one. The story of ramen! how did it come to Japan and how did we get tonkotsu ramen?
youtu.be/8GPELqzelTI
youtu.be/8GPELqzelTI
Today a very simple video: How was tonkotsu stock invented and how do we make it?
Enjoy!
youtu.be/oGHORyO3l7E
Enjoy!
youtu.be/oGHORyO3l7E
This creamy broth was invented by accident | History of Ramen
We're almost there, we've reach Japan and are now making ramen. But first, the broth! For this we are making a tonkotsu broth. It takes 8 hours of cooking, n...
youtu.be
January 18, 2024 at 5:20 PM
Today a very simple video: How was tonkotsu stock invented and how do we make it?
Enjoy!
youtu.be/oGHORyO3l7E
Enjoy!
youtu.be/oGHORyO3l7E
New video up now! In this one we make jook-sing noodles. The direct precursors of ramen. These noodles are a staple of Cantonese cuisine and above all DELICIOUS!
youtu.be/PtNHchgSw8k
youtu.be/PtNHchgSw8k
Making these noodles.... HURTS! | History of Ramen
Bamboo kneading is a vanishing art but the story of how it came to be is fascinating and it ties in with the story of China in the 19th century... quite a tu...
youtu.be
January 11, 2024 at 4:01 PM
New video up now! In this one we make jook-sing noodles. The direct precursors of ramen. These noodles are a staple of Cantonese cuisine and above all DELICIOUS!
youtu.be/PtNHchgSw8k
youtu.be/PtNHchgSw8k