Spice Routes Interest Group

In 2011, a new special topic group embarked on its inaugural journey. The Spice Routes Interest Group combines a potluck of authentic cuisine with exploration of the secret passageways, history, lore, and tastes of the ancient spice trade. During the first year, we vicariously journeyed along the Incense Trail (1000 BCE), feasting on Arabian cuisine; meandered down the Silk Road (100BCE), sampling Chinese delicacies; and joined Marco Polo on his epic journey (1271 AD), indulging in exotic fare from some of the two dozen countries he visited. We also discovered many intriguing tidbits and fascinating facts from the individual readings of participants. The Spice Routes interest group began its third year in 2013 with the theme of the Spice Routes and the Ottoman Empire. In its sixth year, as we ran low on ancient cuisines, the theme expanded to The Global Spice Trade. Then we introduced other themes: 2018-2019 was “Americana”, with dinner themes such as Recipes from Mom & Pop Restaurants along Route 66, National Park Lodges Signature Cuisine; and 2019-2020 Small Plates including Dutch/Indonesian Rijstafel, Swedish Smorgasbord, and Spanish Tapas & Portuguese Petiscos.

Everyone is welcome, even if you have not participated in previous years. Reservations will be open once the upcoming dinner date and theme are announced in Twigs. Due to chair and plate limitations, reservations are accepted for the first 24 respondents for each dinner by email to Peggy Connolly. Peggy’s email address is found under “Branch Online Directory” on the “Members Only” page. Join us on this journey of delicious exploration. Please email us at: WGE-AAUW@comcast.net if you have questions or would like to receive this group’s emails.

It’s not necessary to be a gourmet cook to participate: wine was ubiquitous along the trade routes. This caravan welcomes all curious adventurers! Dinners are held at 7 pm on Thursday evening, once every few months. As adventurers decide what dish they’ll bring, the email is updated by their “reply all”, and the menu takes shape as other exotic items are added to the dinner menu.

The theme and dates for 2025-2026 (our 15th year!) is “Home Sweet Home: Special Days We Celebrated as Kids“.

October 30 Scary Dishes [Halloween 10/31; Sanhain 10/31-11/1]

December 4 Family Holiday Traditions [Diwali 10/20; Hanukkah 12/14-22; Christmas 12/25; Kwanzaa 12/26-1/1]

February 5 Special Comfort Food for pre-Lent Indulging [Mardi Gras]

April 30 A Favorite Recipe that Gives You Joy [May Day]