and Lucia and Elizabeth are swept away on the flood, clinging to the kitchen table. They languish for some weeks on an Italian fishing vessel on the Gallagher Bank, eventually returning to Tilling, where Elizabeth discovers that the recipe has survived the ordeal. Elizabeth subsequently serves a correct Lobster à la Riseholme at her wedding breakfast, at which point the reason for her being in Lucia's kitchen becomes clear. The dish is served again in Lucia's Progress (1935) at Lucia's housewarming party following her move to Elizabeth's former residence, Mallards. Lobster à la Riseholme reappears in Tom Holt's pastiche, Lucia in Wartime (1985), set early in the Second World War. Having mastered "Woolton pie" (an officially sanctioned vegetable dish named after the wartime Food Minister, Lord Woolton), Georgie's triumphant preparation of Lobster à la Riseholme, using a number of substitute ingredients, leads to his expertise being commended to the Ministry of Food. As a result, he is conscripted for a BBC radio broadcast during which, among other things, he provides a recipe for corned beef à la Riseholme. This follows speculation in Tilling as to whether he would reveal the secret of the celebrated lobster dish. Later in the novel, Holt uses the term "humble pie à la Riseholme" with reference to a likely need for humility. Various attempts have been made to create a Lobster à la Riseholme recipe, including one by a contributor to the website of TV's "domestic goddess" Nigella Lawson. References External links Notes by Philip Hensher Detailed glossary of characters and events in the original books Complete Mapp & Lucia first editions 20th-century British novels Novel series Novels set in Sussex British novels adapted into television shows British comedy novels Female characters in literature Comedy literature characters