I have always loved stories of gatherings and love it even more when I get to be a part of it. Whether it’s a tea for two, a family reunion or even an office potluck, the best memories often come from these events.
So when Karen of Sunday Suppers asked if I would be interested in hosting a gathering to celebrate her new cookbook, I was beyond ecstatic. I have always enjoyed reading stories of gatherings held by the SS team and gave ample thoughts to hosting one myself. This just couldn't be more timely.
Here's a little description of Karen's beautiful new cookbook,
Sunday Suppers
celebrates the magic of gathering and bringing together friends and strangers to connect over the acts of cooking and sharing meals.
The Cookbook is a beautiful, simple selection of seasonally-driven recipes that forms a roadmap to creating community in your own kitchens and in offbeat locations.
The concept of this gathering was to recreate a story from the cookbook together with the recipes in the selected theme. I was given 'In Bed', a story that I embrace almost immediately. There's nothing quite like taking your time in making breakfast at the comfort of your own home.
The menu was simple yet comforting, from cream biscuits with jam butter to perfectly scrambled eggs and fresh greens, with some minor alterations to the recipes. For green juice, I substituted kale with a bunch of cilantro as the initial plant isn't commonly grown here and for coffee, milk tea was served to reflect what most locals have in the morning.
The decoration was kept minimal and inexpensive, with a small tree branch (the same used in the #EatYourWords project) as the table's centrepiece and some pops of green and brown throughout. I stumbled across some amazing disposable palm plates while I was shopping that I thought were perfect as an added serving ware but my guests thought they were too pretty and brought them home instead. That's when I know they're my friends. ;-)
Planning this gathering almost felt like a breeze... until exams and back to back shoots started haunting me. Before I knew it, it was almost time for me to leave to Germany. This would not have been possible without my dear friends who all made time for me albeit the short notice. It was a small and beautiful gathering that could not have gone any smoother. What made it even more special is seeing friends who were once strangers, connect and had a great time together.
I'm so thankful for the opportunity to host this gathering and to be a part of this wonderful project together with other amazing hosts from around the world.
Rediscover the art of cooking and eating communally with a beautiful and simple collection of meals for friends and family here, here and here.
A million thanks to Karen + the wonderful SS team!
T.
The table is a meeting place, a gathering ground, the source of sustenance and nourishment, festivity, safety, and satisfaction. A person cooking is a person giving: Even the simplest food is a gift.
Laurie Colwin