The city of York has a rich and varied culinary history, influenced by various cultures over the centuries, including the Romans, Vikings, and Normans. Given its religious significance, York Minster itself has been more associated with feasts and festivals of the Christian calendar than distinct food items. Monastic communities would have grown and consumed their own produce, and fish would have been popular especially during periods of fasting such as Lent. Traditional medieval English fare would have been served within the Minster precincts, with an emphasis on pottage, bread, cheese, and ales, which were the staples of the era.