This month's Food Chain fell on the spooky day of Halloween, where the ghosts came out and the moon shone bright! We were joined by our current artist in residence and chef, Kawther Luay, who's here in Huntly for The Gathering Table. Kawther chose to share a few dishes and traditions that relate to Samhain, a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter. Cooking over a fire pit, we made pumpkins stuffed with spiced rice, flame grilled venison and Soul Cakes. These round, shortbread textured biscuits were traditionally given to folk in need who would knock on houses offering prayers over Halloween, and continues as a tradition in Portugal and the Philippines.
You can read Kawther's recipe for stuffed pumpkins here, and the recipe she used for Soul Cakes here.
A note from Kawther –
Samhain was marked by large gatherings and feasts, and considered a liminal time of thinning thresholds between the living and the dead; the grounded and otherwordly. Later known as All Soul’s Eve, or All Hallow’s Eve, these originally Pagan traditions have evolved into what we have all come to know and love about Halloween. This Food Chain will explore the customs of hospitality, myths and folklore from which our modern rites and rituals come from, with a special feast collectively cooked outdoors. Over the fire, there will be a chance to share any stories or poems!
A big thankyou to everyone who shared poems, stories or songs over our dinner! Zuzana shared a Czech poem called Svatební košile (Kytice), or Wedding Shirts, about a woman praying for her lover to return, only to get a visit from his ghost – you can find the English translation here. Eclipse shared a song called Le Festin de Juliette, which involves Juliette singing about a fantastical banquet that the singer hosts, but never turns up to… because she is the food! You can find English translation lyrics here. Margaret found a couple of versions of a song called A Soulin', about Soul Cakes: this one is by Sting, and this one is by Peter, Paul and Mary. Kawther shared a reading of a poem called The Mushroom Hunters by Neil Gaiman, addressed to his newborn son Ash. Enjoy these seasonal sources!
We hosted this workshop in Square Deal (22 The Square, Huntly) with limited spaces available. We prepared the food indoors for the majority of the event, with some parts spent outside cooking over a fire!
About Food Chain
Which rich culinary backgrounds do we have resident in our own community? Come along to our monthly group cook-along to learn someone else's recipes of home. Together we'll learn about each other's cultural backgrounds as we cook. Food Chains take place in Square Deal, a fully accessible venue at 22 The Square, Huntly. If you have any access or dietary requirements, let us know!
Which rich culinary backgrounds do we have resident in our own community? Come along to our monthly group cook-along to learn someone else's recipes of home. Together we'll learn about each other's cultural backgrounds as we cook. Food Chains take place in Square Deal, a fully accessible venue at 22 The Square, Huntly. If you have any access or dietary requirements, let us know!
