Inspired by the State's Archives

Inspired by the State’s archives …

Inspired by the menus in the State archives collection, Hadleigh Troy creates dishes for Eating the Archives. Sourcing fresh West Australian produce, he reinvents the menus of past State occasions.

What herbs will be used? What unique WA ingredient has been chosen to honour the Consommés that appear in so many historic menus? How are syringes, balloons and liquid nitrogen used to create one of the dishes? In this video get an insider’s view of a top chef’s creative process to conceive the menu for Eating the Archives.

The Eating the Archives exhibition reveals the unexpected stories behind the inspiration for this event, showing the fundamental role food has in our society, and in the marking of important occasions of State.

Image Courtesy of State Library of Western Australia (599B)

The State Records Office invites you to pick up your fork and join us in Eating the Archives - an online exhibition and event that forms part of the Commonwealth Festival Perth 2011.

Witness history come alive on Friday 28 October at 12.00pm in the Perth Cultural Centre as celebrated WA chef Hadleigh Troy of Restaurant Amusé interprets and reinvents menus from the State archives collection using fresh, local produce with a modern twist.

Twenty lucky West Australians will join State Archivist Cathrin Cassarchis and some well-known guests to experience Hadleigh Troy’s take on these historic menus.

Eating the Archives is a partnership with the Department of Agriculture and Food; and the dishes presented will reflect a Buy West Eat Best ethos, showcasing premium West Australian produce.

The online exhibition will take you on a culinary journey to experience food fashions of the past and gain an insight into how these events have shaped today’s food culture and informed WA’s identity. This exhibition will be served up in three courses; Appetiser, Banquet and Dessert. Come back and sample more food related offerings from the State archives collection and follow us on our journey.

Eating the Archives is an event for all to celebrate as chef Hadleigh Troy pays tribute to a bygone culinary era, bringing a small part of WA’s history alive through food.

See and hear Hadleigh begin his journey...