Picture this: you’re at a super fancy medieval feast. The king is there, nobles are laughing, and a massive, beautifully decorated pie is placed on the table. You lean in, ready for a slice of deliciousness, when suddenly… BAM! A flock of live blackbirds bursts out of the crust, flapping wildly and extinguishing the candles, plunging the room into chaos. ✨
No, this isn’t a fever dream. This was actual, real-life dinner entertainment in the 15th and 16th centuries. Welcome to the wild world of surprise pies!
These weren’t your average apple pies. Known as “entremets,” these dishes were all about spectacle. They were served between main courses to wow the guests and show off the host’s wealth and creativity. The goal wasn’t to eat the surprise—it was to create a memorable, jaw-dropping moment.
“The flying Birds and skipping Frogs, the one above, the other beneath, will cause much delight and pleasure to the whole company.”— Robert May, The Accomplisht Cook (1660)
That’s right, he said frogs, too. 🐸 England’s first celebrity chef, Robert May, was famous for these creations. He’d fill a pre-baked pie crust (called a “coffin”) with live birds or frogs and then place a lid on top. When an unsuspecting guest cut into it, the animals would escape, causing what May described as “delight and pleasure” but what we’d probably call “utter panic.”
Ever heard the nursery rhyme, “Sing a Song of Sixpence”?
Sing a song of sixpence, A pocket full of rye. Four and twenty blackbirds, Baked in a pie.When the pie was opened, The birds began to sing. Wasn’t that a dainty dish, To set before the king?
Yep, that rhyme is a direct reference to this bizarre tradition! It wasn’t just birds, either. In 1626, a seven-year-old dwarf named Jeffrey Hudson was “served” to King Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria by emerging from a giant pie crust. He was wearing a tiny suit of armor and became an instant favorite of the Queen. Talk about making an entrance! 🤯
Nope! The birds (and frogs, and dwarfs) were just for show. The pie crust itself was often inedible, made thick and hard just to hold the surprise. After the birds flew away and the frogs hopped off, the real, edible food would be served.
So next time you’re at a boring dinner party, just remember: it could be worse. It could have live frogs hopping around the table. Or, depending on your vibe, it could be way, way better. 😉
1.Atlas Obscura: The Fantastical Feasts of England's First Celebrity Chef - https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-fantastical-feasts-of-englands-first-celebrity-chef
2.Wikipedia: Entremet - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entremet
3.Bustle: 9 Bizarre Foods That People Actually Ate Throughout History - https://www.bustle.com/articles/73642-9-bizarre-foods-that-people-actually-ate-throughout-history-from-ancient-rome-to-the-1950s
