The site is almost over user-friendly with its lavish use of cross references and headings all in gothic script. But such attention to detail speaks of the commitment the author brings. Care is taken to make the recipes accessable to the modern cook. The site is ideal for people of all ages. The graphics and design are brilliant, and the text is fascinating.
Speed is good, and even the huge image gallery comes up reasonably quickly.
Matterer makes clear what is authentic and what is not, and the recipes are printed as originally published, followed by a translation, then a version of the dish written in modern recipe style. It's designed as an easy introduction to the flavours of the period, so ingredients are readily available and cooking techniques are simple. Some recipes also come with a nutritional analysis. Some include rare, strange-sounding ingredients, others are remarkably like what you ate last time you had friends over for dinner. An exploration of food as a literary device in The Canterbury Tales.