Over time, food preferences and eating habits change in response to various cultural, psychological, and social factors. Within the pages of the historic cookbooks in UNSW Library Special Collections are weird and wonderful recipes that capture these bygone tastes. The exhibition drew together recipes dating back to the 17th century ranging from unconventional flavour combinations like bananas and bacon to decorative salads artfully arranged to be as much a feast for the eye as the stomach.

The recipes, or receipts as they were commonly known, were in display cases on Level 3 of UNSW Main Library and loosely grouped under four subheadings: Strange Tastes, Delectable Delights, Peculiar Proteins, and Cooking Curatives. 'Foie gras ice cream' and 'Turtle Fins on Toast' were among the curious delicacies found in the historic cookbooks held in the Library collection.

Top image: Woodcut from a drawing by Eugène Ronjat, Plain Apple Charlotte (1869) in The royal cookery (Le livre de cuisine) : comprising domestic and high-class cookery (1869) by by Jules and Alphonse Gouffé. Printed in London by Sampson Low, Son, and Marston. V 641.5944/23  

Accessibility: UNSW Main Library is wheelchair accessible and the exhibition included large-text artwork labels.

Download the Strange Tastes art labels below.

Art label text (55KB PDF)