Madison memo: CHEW

The Culinary History Enthusiasts of Wisconsin will consider "Why We Dine as We Do: The History of the Dining Table" at their next meeting. The speaker, Swedish born Eva Eliscu, is a Chicago-based food and travel writer, restaurateur, world traveler, culinary consultant and lecturer on the history and customs of the dining table, according to a press release from CHEW. You may remember her — as I do — as the proprieter of the late, delightful French cafe, the "Cook's Room," in Dodgeville.  

Eliscu has a fascinating Web site which will give you a feel for what to expect from her presentation. "The dining table is an interesting and entertaining lens through which to view western culture," she notes on the site. "Politics, fashion and social customs have forever been played out at the table and some of history's most famous characters have single-handedly changed the course of how we eat and drink."  In addition to the history of dining, Eliscu is a life-long collector of all the dishes, silver and serving pieces that turn dining into art. A woman after my own heart, I can't wait to hear her dish it out. 

The meeting is at 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday, June 3rd at the Goodman Atwood Community Center, 149 Waubesa Street, Madison.

Comments

[Susan (garden chick)]

If no man is an island, perhaps no topic is either. Interesting that a talk on the history of dining tables will incorporate fashion and politics. When I was in college and working towards a degree that included religious studies, when people asked why I was interested in something so specific, I explained that by studying religion, one also studies history, sociology, cultural anthropology - and the list goes on.

Thanks for your kind words on my blog. What lovely feedback from a professional writer - it made my day!

[LINDA from EACH LITTLE WORLD]

Everyone says you need to stay on topic on your blog, but I think it's all related one way or another. So I really liked your "island" concept.