My Account
Nearly three years ago, a small group of Matakana parents decided to put together a community cookbook as a school fundraiser. But they wanted it to be more than just a collection of recipes cobbled together by students and their families – they wanted a book that would celebrate the region and reflect the food, character and lifestyle of the people who live here.
Fast forward to 2018, and The Village Table – Recipes and Stories from Matakana is the result – a lavish, 384-page full-colour volume that would sit as smartly on any coffee table as on a kitchen bench.
There are recipes, certainly, and plenty of them, but there are also 40 tales of local characters – cooks and growers, writers and artists, chefs and even a former All Black – and an abundance of evocative photography highlighting the people, places and landscapes that make the Matakana food scene tick.
Each of the nine themed chapters celebrates a different ‘village table’, places where the community gathers to share food and socialise, such as the weekly Matakana Green Swap or Whangaripo’s annual Wild Food Festival.
Village Table volunteers, back row, Christine Sheehy, Emily Parker, Anneliese Parker, Kate Arbuthnot and, front row, Laurette Macky, Katherine Norman, Lori Satterthwaite, Monique Thomas and Amanda Garthwaite.
All the book’s design, photography, food styling, writing and editing has been carried out by local professionals – and school parents – who have volunteered their time and expertise, with Point Wells film producer Peter Young as overseer.
“Like many projects, it became bigger than we ever imagined, but we’re very proud of the result,” Peter says. “We wanted to invite readers into the heart of our Matakana community. There were so many incredible foodies, artisans and producers with stories waiting to be told.”
All proceeds from the book will go to Matakana Primary School to provide outdoor covered areas, so students have shade in the summer and can play outside when it is raining.
The Village Table costs $49 and will be available from Saturday, September 29 at the Matakana Village Market, and other outlets including the Matakana Four Square, Matakana Village Books, Paper Plus in Warkworth, Green with Envy, The Sawmill Brewery and The Vivian Gallery. The book can also be purchased online at thevillagetable.co.nz
