Episode 4

Heston Blumenthal's name is synonymous with cutting edge cuisine but his inspiration comes from the history of British cooking. In 'Historic Heston' he chooses twenty eight dishes which span from medieval times to the late 19th Century. He takes them apart, then puts them together again with his own inimitable twist, so creating a sublime 21st Century take on ancient delicacies.

Today, Heston recounts the English obsession with pineapple, first introduced here at the time of Charles II and later grown by many enthusiasts in the pineapple pits of grand country houses. And as he considers his 21st Century twist on an 1858 recipe for Tipsy Cake, what better fruit could he add?

Written by Heston Blumenthal
Read by Heston Blumenthal and Hugh Dennis

Abridged and produced by Jane Marshall
A Jane Marshall production for BBC Radio 4.