polska: Mince pie

Evidence: 100 • authority: 72

A mince pie is a sweet pie of English origin filled with mincemeat: a mixture of fruits, nuts, spices and a spirit—usually brandy—or vinegar. Also included is a fat, traditionally beef suet, although vegetable alternatives can be used. A mince pie is traditionally served during the Christmas season in much of the English-speaking world. Its history is a matter of debate but it dates back to the medieval period, possibly to the eleventh century, when returning European crusaders brought spices back with them. Historically, a mince pie was made with meat before changing to the current form. The meat used in recipes varied, but included neat's tongue (cattle), beef, mutton, tripe and could als…

Evidence: — • authority: 72

Pizza is an Italian dish typically consisting of a flat base of leavened wheat-based dough topped with tomato, cheese, and other ingredients, baked at a high temperature, traditionally in a wood-fired oven. The term pizza was first recorded in AD 997, in a Latin manuscript from the southern Italian town of Gaeta, in Lazio, on the border with Campania. Raffaele Esposito is often credited with creating the modern version of pizza in Naples at the end of the 19th century. In 2009, Neapolitan pizza was registered with the European Union as a traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG) dish. In 2017, the art of making Neapolitan pizza was included on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage. Pi…

Evidence: — • authority: 72

Eel pies have been eaten since at least the 13th or 14th centuries. In medieval Britain, eel pies were often eaten around fasting periods of the liturgical calendar and were sometimes used to pay rent. The crust was not necessarily eaten; in some pies it served as a vessel, with the eel filling scooped out and served on bread. Consumption was not restricted to Britain, with records of eel pies being sold and eaten on the streets of 15th-century France and served at a wedding banquet in 14th-century Milan. Eel pies continued to be eaten in Britain after the medieval period. As they did, tastes changed, and by the 18th century the eel pie had transitioned from a heavily spiced dish to lighter…

Evidence: — • authority: 72

Game pie is a form of meat pie featuring game. The dish dates from Roman times when the main ingredients were wild birds and animals such as partridge, pheasant, deer, and hare. The pies reached their most elaborate form in Victorian England, with complex recipes and specialized moulds and serving dishes. Modern versions are simpler but savoury combinations of rabbit, venison, pigeon, pheasant, and other commercially available game.

Evidence: — • authority: 72

Christmas dinner is a meal traditionally eaten at Christmas. This meal can take place any time from the evening of Christmas Eve to the evening of Christmas Day itself. The meals are often particularly rich and substantial, in the tradition of the Christian feast day celebration, and form a significant part of gatherings held to celebrate the arrival of Christmastide. In many cases, there is a ritual element to the meal related to the religious celebration, such as the saying of grace. The actual meal consumed varies considerably across different parts of the world, reflecting regional cuisines and local traditions. In many countries, particularly former British colonies, the meal shares so…