tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376945012109352112.post7459851056781790785..comments2024-03-18T04:47:02.250+00:00Comments on Essex Eating: Pontack - An Elderberry sauceDanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04111357339779405801noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376945012109352112.post-65741794069322283452017-08-06T21:03:00.279+01:002017-08-06T21:03:00.279+01:00I found a similar pontack recipe in one of the war...I found a similar pontack recipe in one of the wartime Penguin books - made some about 25 years ago - OK, but wasn't that impressed:- kept the bottles. About to throw them some years later - gave it a try and was very impressed.<br /><br />Looked it up further (can't remember source (sauce?) but pre-Google) - remember reading that it was so popular in Georgian times that members of Gentlemen's London Clubs used to have their own secret recipes and bring their own bottle to dine. The seven year bit was definitely originally not 'up to 7 years' but 'at least 7 years' - I agree, vintage is best, and a thickened sauce/ketchup is good.<br /><br />Great with strong meats, sausage and mash etc. Also great with rice dishes - but will turn everything purple.<br /><br />Good eating<br />Danny Roberts (Sheffield)Dannynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376945012109352112.post-10746306160050010542015-09-13T19:43:23.643+01:002015-09-13T19:43:23.643+01:00Instead of red wine vinegar try balsamic and a lar...Instead of red wine vinegar try balsamic and a large helping of port. Excellent with mint to slow cook lamb!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11099380901511496457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376945012109352112.post-59091241086261541052014-08-31T23:04:27.677+01:002014-08-31T23:04:27.677+01:00Really enjoyed this recipe, thank you. Will be gat...Really enjoyed this recipe, thank you. Will be gathering more and making the other version for posterity next weekend!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376945012109352112.post-79273229356677543552011-08-29T10:23:43.461+01:002011-08-29T10:23:43.461+01:00May - Hahahaha dye wool, that sounds a bit medieva...May - Hahahaha dye wool, that sounds a bit medieval, but will certainly work. Elderberries stain like you wouldn't believe.<br /><br />The Little Dinner Lady - If you try it, let me know what you think :)<br /><br />Carl Legge - Hello, It was indredibly hard to track down anything about the history of Pontack. My original source for Monsieur Pontack and the Lombard Street tavern is 'Everything in the Larder' by David Mabey, Who wrote... <br /><br />'The story goes that there was once a hostelry in London's Lombard Street where Samuel Pepys first drank Chateau Haut Brion. It was on the site of this tavern that Monsieur Pontac - owner of the chateau set up his famous eating house. One of his specialities was Pontac's sauce made appropriately from claret and elderberries. In a modified form this became of the the famous of all store sauces'. <br /><br />Some more online research gave me the name of the tavern 'Pontack's Head'<br /><br />Interestingly, I found online an e-book 'The signs of Old Lombard Street' which suggests that according to title deeds, the 'Puntack's Head' on the corner of Abchurch lane later became the site of the famous Lloyds coffee house. <br /><br />It also includes this information...<br /><br />We find by conteraporary literature, that the 'house was kept by a Monsieur Pontack or Pontac, a Frenchman, son of the President of Bordeaux, who was owner of the vineyards of Pontaq and O'Brien,* <br />from whence came the choice clarets. <br /><br />He came to London to establish a famous eating house, and set up his father's head as a sign, which is mentioned by Dryden, Swift and Defoe, likewise Evelyn, who states that, in 1694, the Royal Society dined at Puntack's as usual. He also describes him as "having studied well in philosophy, but chiefly the <br />Rabbins, and was exceedingly addicted to cabalistic fancies, an external hablador (romancer) and half distracted by reading abundance of the extravagant Eastern Jews. He spake all languages, was very rich, had a handsome person, and was well bred, <br />about forty -five years of age. I think I may truly say of him, which was not so truly said of St. Paul, 'that much learning hath made him mad.' <br /><br />Swift, in his letters to Stella, says that the wine was charged seven shillings a flask, 'are not these pretty rates.' Before Pontack had the house it was known by the sign of the "White Bear." <br />The premises now form part of Messrs. Robarts, <br />Lubbock and Co.s bank. <br /><br />* Probably "Haut Brion."<br />________________________________________<br /><br />So, in conclusion I could find only one source attributing Monsieur Pontack as being the originator of Pontack Sauce, but there's seemingly a total absence of any competing claims, and it makes a good story don’t you think?<br /><br />Hope this helps.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04111357339779405801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376945012109352112.post-18012627918735936492011-08-27T14:12:46.137+01:002011-08-27T14:12:46.137+01:00Hi Dan
Found you trying to research the history o...Hi Dan<br /><br />Found you trying to research the history of Pontack Sauce, hi :)<br /><br />Is your source (no pun intended) for this the London Encyclopeadia?<br /><br />Just curious as these odd names fascinate me.<br /><br />Have just made my first batch. There will be more.<br /><br />Cheers<br />CarlCarl Leggehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05847326744882267208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376945012109352112.post-84197148277346617342011-08-27T12:56:40.178+01:002011-08-27T12:56:40.178+01:00Mmmmm the elderberry bush in the park opposite my ...Mmmmm the elderberry bush in the park opposite my house is calling me...think pigeon might be on the cards this week!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11008833846666775306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376945012109352112.post-85464730674702163892011-08-25T12:35:56.115+01:002011-08-25T12:35:56.115+01:00Might give this recipe a try as I have a bucket of...Might give this recipe a try as I have a bucket of elderberries and don't know what to do with them, except maybe crushing them to dye wool with.Mayhttp://www.slowfoodkitchen.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376945012109352112.post-11192884166716292952011-08-24T17:59:11.790+01:002011-08-24T17:59:11.790+01:00Food Urchin - Cheers dude. Got to say, it didn'...Food Urchin - Cheers dude. Got to say, it didn't have a muddy taste at all. I'd describe the flavour as sweet, slightly vinegary and with a deep fruitiness.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04111357339779405801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376945012109352112.post-8396864991948406942011-08-24T10:05:26.103+01:002011-08-24T10:05:26.103+01:00Ah the elderflower tree, the tree that keeps on gi...Ah the elderflower tree, the tree that keeps on giving and giving. Nice recipe Dan, I am looking for different uses too but tell me, did it have a slighty 'muddy' taste to it?Food Urchinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02453819598450656718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376945012109352112.post-36976178733614282052011-08-23T12:25:46.967+01:002011-08-23T12:25:46.967+01:00Gareth - The recipe is partly based on the river c...Gareth - The recipe is partly based on the river cottage one and another recipe for an elderberry reduction. We wanted something we could use straight away, and this worked admirably. Be interested to know what a aged Pontack tastes like.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04111357339779405801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376945012109352112.post-70009886132361863682011-08-23T11:09:37.775+01:002011-08-23T11:09:37.775+01:00Dan - Where did you find the recipe? I made a bott...Dan - Where did you find the recipe? I made a bottle of this last year based on one in the River Cottage Preserving Handbook but haven't dared open it yet. At the time it definitely smelled as if it needed some time (7 years?) to mellow! Might be time to take the plunge and crack it open!Garethhttp://www.bibendum-times.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376945012109352112.post-53920658790420512272011-08-22T22:09:02.312+01:002011-08-22T22:09:02.312+01:00Josordoni - Exactly. You can do either.....It'...Josordoni - Exactly. You can do either.....It's 'mazersDanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04111357339779405801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376945012109352112.post-69829175661787379032011-08-22T20:32:51.657+01:002011-08-22T20:32:51.657+01:00oh! and this is something you can also bottle and ...oh! and this is something you can also bottle and keep, or use before you have to collect your pension? oh fabbbbbb!josordonihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13870580218492840741noreply@blogger.com