A Gothic Cookbook: Hauntingly Delicious Recipes Inspired by 13 Classic Tales

When it comes to food, Gothic literature is loaded with meaning. The sumptuous honeymoon meal of pheasant with hazelnuts and chocolate was the epitome of consumption and indulgence in The Bloody Chamber. The rich aroma of smoky, peppery stew lull’s Dracula’s victims into a false sense of security, while the dripping crumpets and melt-in-the-mouth angel cake served in Rebecca are pawns in a battle for control.

Draw near and join us as our darkly atmospheric meal begins, for the table is set and laden with ravishing recipes from the literary crypt. To start, Mrs Dudley has prepared a spooky souffle to whet the appetite in The Haunting of Hill House. For your main course, enjoy the potted sirloin of beef that comforts Arthur in The Woman in Black, accompanied by a pile of jade green vegetables like those spotted by Dorian Gray during his walk in Covent Garden. The acorns feasted on by Frankenstein’s vegetarian ‘monster’ can make a crumbly, delicately sweetened bread. Delight in Jane Eyre’s fragrant seed cake for dessert, and wash it all down with a Fearless French 75.

These are just a few of the recipes that adorn this delicious literary-inspired cookbook. With knife-sharp analysis, mouth-watering recipes and lavish illustrations, A Gothic Cookbook is the perfect culinary companion for those of you who enjoy a slice of the macabre with your meal.

Alessandra Pino holds a PhD in Food, Cultural Memory, and the Gothic from the University of Westminster, building on a decade of experience working alongside a Michelin-starred chef. She is a regular contributor to Haunted Magazine and Rue Morgue, and co-hosts two podcasts: A is for Apple and Fear Feasts. She is a member of the Guild of Food Writers. For more information, visit www.alessandrapino.com.

Ella Buchan is an experienced, award-winning journalist and editor specialising in food and travel, and with a penchant for the darker things in life. Her writing has been published in The Times, National Geographic Traveller Food, the Independent and others, and she currently helms food and recipe website lovefood.com.

Lee Henry is an illustrator and designer based in Newcastle upon Tyne. With a background in editorial and publishing, he has worked with leading brands such as BBC Good Food, Radio Times and Where magazine.