­Pat stirs up passion for cooking in new Downe U3A group

­Pat stirs up passion for cooking in new Downe U3A group

24 February 2021

DOWNE U3A are enjoying a new taste experience.

Having recognised that its members enjoy eating, Downe U3A has established a new interest group based on food.

The group was formed by Pat Mulhall and its first meeting was held, appropriately, on Shrove Tuesday last week.

Debbie Warwick told the history and significance of Shrove Tuesday, before moving on to stories about pancakes, including the world’s largest, which weighed all of three tons.

Her talk led to a discussion about different types of pancakes, blinis, crepes and galettes.

Members shared their childhood memories of different types of food, what their mothers made and, surprisingly often, what their fathers made.

Since the next meeting will be on the eve of St Patrick’s Day it was decided to feature Irish stew.

It will also include a talk by food journalist Joe Warwick about his trip around Ireland learning about all the different ways of cooking the dish. 

Once face-to-face meetings are allowed again it is planned to have live cookery demonstrations, lunches and barbecues, as well as sharing members’ recipes and home made baking.

Downe U3A welcomes new members. If you are no longer in full time work or raising a family — U3A calls it your third age — and are interested in opportunities to develop your interests, make new friends and have fun, email downeu3a@gmail.com for more information.