Live birds in a pie

The Accomplisht Cook, etc. Author: May, Robert / Printed for N. Brooke, and are to be sold by Tho. Language: English Source/Shelfmark: 1037.e.12, A7v-A8 The author describes a number of spectacular dishes that were designed to be served at grand banquets. They include an exploding pastry ship with flags, streamers and guns; a bleeding pastry stag filled with claret; and a pie containing live frogs and birds. In the latter, May describes how the live animals will hop and fly from the pie, thus putting out the candles, and causing the ladies to skip and shriek. Image taken from The Accomplisht Cook, etc. Originally published/produced in Printed for N. Brooke, and are to be sold by Tho. Archer: London, 1671.