Recreating Historic Menus For National Trust Properties, Hill House

Recreating Historic Menus For National Trust Properties: Hill House

The Hill House, a cherished National Trust property in Scotland, provides a vivid glimpse into the life of the Blackie family and their early 20th-century dining traditions. In its mission to create an immersive visitor experience, the Hill House collaborated with the Fake Food Workshop to recreate key dishes from the family’s menus, bringing their culinary history to life.

The Hill House approached us with intriguing challenges, presenting menus that echoed the culinary preferences of an era long past.

We worked closely with the Hill House team to craft replicas of a diverse selection of dishes. The display includes sardine sandwiches, Clootie Dumpling, pineapple upside-down cake, Alphabet soup with a bowl and spoon, Moffat Toffee, turnips, pineapple pudding with glazed red cherries, assorted jellies, pies, biscuits, a basket of fresh raspberries, a bowl of kedgeree, grilled trout, jam tarts, and honey in a pot with a spoon and more…

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The Blackie family's dining preferences were as diverse as they were intriguing.

Each piece was meticulously designed to reflect the Blackie family’s dining preferences while maintaining historical accuracy. These replicas help immerse visitors in the social and culinary customs of the time, creating a display that feels authentic and dynamic.

Recreating the Blackie family’s menus was a unique opportunity to combine historical research with craftsmanship. It is a privilege to support The Hill House in engaging visitors with such rich and evocative storytelling.

'We have been working with Kerry at Fake Food Workshop for several years now, commissioning historical food to display in the Hill House, Scotland'

Every time an order has arrived, we are in awe of the beauty and intricate detail of every piece she has created.

The food is so lifelike that so many visitors are convinced it’s real! Kerry is so accommodating with every request we’ve had and always ensures everything arrives in perfect condition and beautifully packaged!

As a historic house, we are always looking for ways to engage our visitors in new and dynamic ways. The fake food on display in the house never fails to get visitors talking and is a great way to encourage the sharing of food related memories. We always want the Hill House to feel like a home that was lived in and loved, rather than a museum, and the pieces created by the Fake Food Workshop help us to do just that!

Sophie Torrens, Visitor Services Supervisor - The Hill House