Our May Cookbook & Supper Club took place on Thursday, 28 May. It delivered one of the most engaging and thought-provoking evenings we have hosted to date.
As usual, we welcomed, John Morris from The Book Cottage. He presented a fascinating talk on the role of culture before and during the Second World War. John drew on his extensive research and expertise. Developed through his two scholarly books, Culture and Propaganda in World War II: Music, Film and the Battle for National Identity and Music and Politics in Thirties Britain: Raise the Standard High.
Guests explored how music, film, and culture influenced public opinion and national identity during one of history’s most turbulent periods. Those who attended gained a new appreciation for the significance of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. They also discovered the remarkable story behind the famous Warsaw Concerto. John’s presentation sparked lively discussion and left everyone eager to learn more.
To complement the evening’s theme, our kitchen created a menu inspired by wartime cookbooks distributed by the British government. We served an aromatic beef curry featuring apples and raisins. It was accompanied by savoury onion rice and a fresh turnip-top salad.
For dessert, guests enjoyed a delectable lemon tart served with fresh cream and garnished with glazed lemon peel. The bright citrus flavours offered a fitting conclusion to a memorable meal.
The combination of excellent food, fascinating history, and stimulating conversation made this one of our most intellectual Cookbook & Supper Club evenings yet. In fact, we could easily have listened to John for another two hours, since his insights, stories, and depth of knowledge captivated the room from beginning to end.
We would like to thank John for sharing his expertise and everyone who joined us for another wonderful evening of food, books, and conversation. Pop by The Book Cottage for the best selection of books and knowledgeable advise.
Next month’s Cookbook & Supper Club will take place on the 23rd of June and the theme will be travelling through Africa. We are looking forward to welcoming our guest speakers, Barend La Grange and Toast Coetzee. To book give us a call on 079 833 8811.
