Home made cheese, rainbow-coloured macaroons, photographs and favourite family recipes were shared at the launch of ‘Home Made in Smethwick‘, our new, limited edition book, with photographer, Liz Hingley. The event brought together the people in the book, their friends and family and residents from the Smethwick community to see, for the first time, the result of Liz Hingley’s two year collaboration with Multistory. Rather than a traditional cookbook, this collection of portraits and hand-written recipes reveals how food can act as a bridge from one continent to another; from one generation to the next; and from one house to its neighbour.
At the ‘tasting table’, guests were invited to sample some of the dishes included in the book, made especially for the event by the people who gave the recipes, including rainbow macaroons from Enrique; Lynn’s bread and butter pudding; home made cheese by Jo; apple and blackberry crumble and Indian sweets from the Ferdos family; four types of bread by Albert; Debbie’s Ozzy stacks; and fairy cakes from a Brushstrokes volunteer. All of the photographs from the book were exhibited, live music played and books and prints were gifted to participants and guests.
Everyone left with full bellies, the sounds of the band in their ears and a book tucked under their arm.
A special thanks to Teresa and the staff at Brushstrokes, including the Brushstrokes volunteer who made delicious Somalian pasta, served from an ornate always-full pot, and others that made food to share. Thanks also to the African-French Speaking Community Support band, who filled the room with beautiful music played throughout.
