Red River Stannary Dinner
Mollie Goldstrom
Red River: Listening to a Polluted River, 2021
Photos: Harvey Gorst
Red River: Listening to a Polluted River is a research project led by poet and academic Dr John Wedgwood Clarke of the University of Exeter. It explores how creative writing can transform our relationship to a polluted, post-industrial river through listening to the human and non-human voices that have shaped, and continue to shape, its course. In addition to John, artists working on the project include visual artist Naomi Frears, artist chef Mollie Goldstrom and sound artist Rob Mackay. Field Notes have programmed a number of public events to share the complex impact of human activity on the ecology of the Red River: a series of walks took place along its banks over the summer of 2021, and in October 2021 the Red River Stannary was held at CAST, Helston.
Mollie created an exquisite menu to accompany the dinner. The texts on the reverse are extracts from a range of sources that influenced Mollie’s approach to the meal, they were read aloud between courses to make connections between the delicious dishes and the history of the river.
Red River Stannary dinner, Mollie Goldstrom, 2021
Gorse flower wine, einkorn saffron sourdough, cultured seaweed butter, cockle shells, beet-cured trout, leaves, beet-fennel dukkah, verjuice, sunchoke oil, alder grilled sardines, squash, nettle, rosehip, mushroom vinegar, little potatoes baked in salt, chesnut flour cake, hedge fruits, homemade clotted cream, fig leaf, roses
The Red River Stannary was held on Saturday 9th October 2021 at CAST in Helston, Cornwall. After the day's programme of talks and workshops, artist-chef Mollie Goldstrom presented a series of culinary delights that were developed based on research into the history of the red river and its environs. Dinner guests processed up the stairs and then snaked around the three tables laid out for the dinner in a partner echoing a tradition from the village of Troon near the source of the river. Sounds recorded by Rob Mackay along the course of the river were played throughout and between each course readings of texts related to the area and forming the inspiration for the food were read aloud.
Mollie joined us on each of the four walks that took place along the Red River in the summer of 2021, foraging and drawing inspiration for each beautiful dish from this unique body of water and its diverse surroundings. The meal included ingredients foraged from the river banks, with courses referencing slime, filtration and sedimentation yet resulting in the most delicious dishes. She meticulously prepared every element of the menu, even making her own clotted cream!⠀
The dinner guests processed into the dining room from CAST's screening space in single file, snaking around the tables in a nod to Troon's Tea Treat tradition of the Serpentine Walk
Mollie's research process delved into the historic tradition of the Cornish Tea Treat, one of the biggest events of the calendar year in the early 1800s, with chapels across the county organising processions, celebrations and friendly competitions on Midsummer's day. Our meal began with a procession inspired by the ‘Serpentine Walk’, which originated in the Cornish town of Troon, and took place at the conclusion of the parade and before the distribution of the traditional Tea Treat saffron buns.⠀
As well as being an artist Mollie is one of the talented chefs at CAST Café and the team there supported her to help make the meal possible. To see more stunning images from the event or find out more about the wider project take a look at the Red River Poetry website.
As well as being an artist Mollie is one of the talented chefs at CAST Café and the team there supported her to help make the meal possible. To see more stunning images from the event or find out more about the wider project take a look at the Red River Poetry website.
FUNDERS AND PARTNERS
Red River: Listening to Polluted River is supported by funds from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the University of Exeter and produced in partnership with CAST Cornwall, Heartlands, Literature Works and Kernow Education Arts Partnership (KEaP). The project is also supported by National Trust, The Poetry Society, Westcountry Rivers Trust, King Edward Mine Museum and the Red River Rescuers.
Red River: Listening to Polluted River is supported by funds from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the University of Exeter and produced in partnership with CAST Cornwall, Heartlands, Literature Works and Kernow Education Arts Partnership (KEaP). The project is also supported by National Trust, The Poetry Society, Westcountry Rivers Trust, King Edward Mine Museum and the Red River Rescuers.
GET IN TOUCH:
info@fieldnotes.org.ukThe development of this website was supported by Cultivator Cornwall
