Eating the Archives - the dessert
“Good food is the foundation of genuine happiness” – Auguste Escoffier
The aim of Eating the Archives was to have an event that highlighted the unexpected stories in the State archives collection; stories that are revealed in an extensive online exhibition about past State occasions and Royal visits.
Thirty guests, 22 selected by an online lottery and radio promotion joined six well known Western Australians - Peter Bell, Andrea Gibbs, Narelda Jacobs, Sam Longley, Professor Fiona Stanley and Kav Temperley at the event. Along with the Master of Ceremonies Verity James and Host the State Archivist Cathrin Cassarchis, they enjoyed a remarkable meal created, cooked and served by Hadleigh Troy and his team from Restaurant Amusé.
Placed in the ‘People’s Space’ in the transformed Perth Cultural Centre as part of the Commonwealth Festival Perth 2011, Eating the Archives was a reinterpretation of history with a solid foundation in the State archives collection. Unlike the State dinners, banquets, luncheons and garden parties of times past which were held behind closed doors for a select few, Eating the Archives was on show for all to experience, and included delicious tasters for audience members so that history could be savoured, shared and enjoyed by all.
