The Georgians are famous for their love of hot chocolate, and Handel is recorded as enjoying it at breakfast (together with mutton broth!). At this exclusive early evening event in London’s only Georgian townhouse kitchen, which was restored in 2023, food historians Marc Meltonville and Robert Hoare demonstrate the making of the hot chocolate Handel and his contemporaries enjoyed, including a luxurious drink made with port wine. The even concludes with the opportunity to taste a sample of the drinks and includes a viewing of all of Handel’s house. 

Our historic cooks follow original recipes, use original techniques and replicas of historic kitchen tools to demonstrate how Georgian cooks worked in their kitchens. As with a modern kitchen, the tools being used may cause injury if misused or mishandled.

To make sure you enjoy your visit to the kitchen, please ask before touching items that the cooks are using and follow any safety instructions given by the cooks, or our staff and volunteers. Please ensure children are supervised at all times while visiting the kitchens.

The hot chocolate made with port wine or hot chocolate made with milk will be available for tasting at this event. The ingredients are:

Hot chocolate made with port wine
Chocolate (100% cacao)
Flour (Wheat)
Port wine (alcoholic)
Sugar

Hot chocolate made with milk
Chocolate (100% cacao)
Flour (Wheat)
Cows milk (Milk)
Sugar