London’s only 18th-century townhouse kitchen at 25 Brook Street – the home of the great composer George Frideric Handel, who was known for his love of fine food – will come to life on Saturday and Sunday, September 28 and 29 2024 with Georgian food demonstrations at Handel Hendrix House. This will be complemented in the evening by a Hot Chocolate demonstration!
As Simon Daniels, Director of Handel Hendrix House explains: “Food historians Marc Meltonville and Robert Hoare will be in period costume and using replica Georgian kitchenware. For the first time since the house’s £3million restoration, visitors will be able to experience a kitchen filled with the sights and smells of Georgian cooking using recipes from the 1747 cookbook The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy by Hannah Glasse.”
He added: “In his day Handel was known for his love of food. ‘Handel was in the best humour in the world’ observed his friend as they shared tea and coffee, chocolate, mulled white wine and biscuits during an evening of music making. Handel boasted a well-equipped kitchen with a cook ready to boil, pickle, fry, stew, and roast up his favourite dishes. At one meal he is known to have enjoyed ‘Rice soup with mutton in, petty patties, lamb’s ears, an eel pye’ all accompanied by ‘French claret, rhenish wine, madeira’. His kitchen has been carefully re-created at the museum.”
He finishes: “While enjoying fine food, wine and good company, Handel may not have always shared the finest foods with his guests. On one

famous occasion, he was apparently discovered in his closet surreptitiously enjoying a ‘hamper of Burgundy’ whilst his musician guests tucked into more meagre fare. Handel worried his friends because he ‘eats too much of those things he ought to avoid’, and as one music manuscript bears his handwritten note-to-self to order 12 gallons of port, one can understand why.”
Visitors will be able to watch and talk to the cooks as they prepare different dishes throughout the day as well as finding out what life was like for the cooks working in the townhouses of Georgian London.
In addition to the cookery, visitors can go upstairs to enjoy fabulous 18th-century music performed live by professional musicians between 10-12pm and 1-3pm in the room in which Handel himself performed. There will also be family-friendly Georgian crafting, with the opportunity for visitors to make their own souvenir of their visit.
The cookery event, live music and crafting are included in general admission and children under 16 go free. Please note, it is not possible for visitors to taste food prepared during this event. Book now at www.handelhendrix.org
Georgian hot chocolate demonstration
From 18.00 – 19.30 on Saturday, September 28, 2024, there will be a celebration of Georgian hot chocolate at Handel Hendrix House.
As Simon Daniels explains: “The Georgians are famous for their love of hot chocolate, and Handel is recorded as enjoying it at breakfast (together with mutton broth!). At this exclusive early evening event in London’s only Georgian townhouse kitchen, which was restored in 2023, food historians Marc Meltonville and Robert Hoare demonstrate the making of the hot chocolate Handel and his contemporaries enjoyed, including a luxurious version of the drink made with port wine. The event concludes with the opportunity to taste a sample of the hot chocolate and includes a viewing of all of Handel’s house.”
Tickets £20.00 All ages are welcome but only over 18s will be able to sample the hot chocolate made with port wine. Places are limited