The E17 Cook Book Club is a foodie social evening, everyone brings some food to share and their cook book inspiration (plus a £3 contribution to cover costs). We eat, talk and have fun. The themes, chefs and recipe books change each time.

We’ve come a long way, our themes so far have been: Americana, Delia Smith, a Park Picnic, Seasonal Ingredients, Indian Summer, Holiday Memories, Bonfire Night and Mexican Christmas.

In January 2016 we kicked off the new year with ‘French Cooking’ to create a warming, wintry feast. We dined bistro style at the Vestry House Museum on classics including: Beef Bourguinon; Chicken with lentils; Toulouse sausage Cassoulet; Chicken liver pate; Roux brothers’ ‘Flan aux moules au perfume de thym’ (mussel and thyme flan); Chestnut soup; Caramelized garlic tart; Brousse homemade cheese; Tomato Fougasse bread; Duck confit; Tarte tatin; Macarons and Apricot & almond tart.

In February we welcomed more new members as we were exploring ‘Middle Eastern’ cooking. Think Ottolenghi, Honey & Co, Moro, Claudia Roden, Sally Butcher, Persia, Morocco, Algeria… It was a feast of meatballs, pitta breads, and pomegranate seeds.

The planned themes for the next few dates:

Wednesday 30 March – 8.30pm at The Bell, we’ll be celebrating a ‘Greek Easter’ Καλό Πάσχα (Kalo Pascha!). A menu of Meze, Greek salad, Olives, Dolmades if anyone’s brave enough, Spanakopita, Spring lamb dishes, Baklava, Tsourekia Easter bread and Easter biscuits…

and  Wednesday 27 April – 8.30pm at The Bell, ‘Spring Time Vegetarian’. A chance to experiment with seasonal vegetarian or vegan dishes celebrating the end of the wintery comfort food months.

Newbies, couples, singles, everyone is welcome to join us – it’s informal, delicious and fun! The group each evening varies from 6-10 people. Bring a dish and maybe the recipe or cook book. You don’t have to be a masterchef, just share a love of cooking, eating and experimenting and meeting new people. Sign up to the Facebook page so we can discuss in advance what everyone’s planning to cook.