Lords & Ladles is an original factual entertainment format that takes the viewer on a historical journey to celebrate our past through the wonders of food and the glories of cooking.

The series features three of Ireland’s finest chefs: Derry Clarke, Catherine Fulvio and Paul Flynn, who are as oddly complimentary as the original Top Gear trio, with egos to match.

Each week the chefs arrive at a Great Irish Country House to recreate a grand dinner from its history, a 17^th century banquet to celebrate the completing of a tower house, or a 19^th century hunt dinner. First they draw lots to determine the division of labour – one will Gather the ingredients, one will Cook, and one will get to Dine with the Gentry.

The Gatherer gets their hands dirty while hunting, shooting and fishing as well as butchering, skinning and plucking in the local area before bringing back the ingredients for the feast. The Cook familiarises themselves with the Grand House’s often ancient cooking equipment and grapples with baffling recipes for Quails in Aspic Jelly, Lumber Pye, Cow’s Udder Forced and Florendine Hare.

Meanwhile the Diner gets to explore the house with the family, learning about its place in the history of the area and the island, the trials and tribulations of the family seat and of course help lay the table using the finest silver and china from the house safe.

The Cook’s work all done, a vast quantity of food is served with all the pomp and ceremony it deserves, to the family and their guests.

This format merges food, cooking and history in a fun and innovative mainstream format that appeals to all ages and provides perfect family viewing.

Lords & Ladles is distributed by Fremantle Media.

Supported by the Broadcast Authority of Ireland and investment incentives for the Irish Film Industry provided by the Government of Ireland.