Piringatahi: A heritage feast

This is an opportunity for you to get up-close & hands-on with heritage collections held at Auckland Council Libraries.

Including a range of cookbooks from 1714 to the present. Iconic titles such as Edmonds and Mrs Beeton’s and many locally created cookbooks for community fundraisers.

Handwritten recipe books provide a fascinating glimpse into what people cooked and ate in the past. Wartime cooking and rationing caused us to pay more attention to what we were cooking and eating.

Come and look at vegetarian, healthy living and nutrition focussed items – some authors were seen as cranks, but were they just ahead of their time?

We’ll also have on display visually striking, classic Health Department posters and a selection of menus from historic Tāmaki restaurants.

All welcome | Bookings required.

Image: Royal Swan Restaurant, 1968. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 1269-19681222-03. Photographer: Rykenberg Photography.