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The American Women's Association is proving that there are a number of hot dishes amongst its membership ... and they've a new cookbook to prove it.
As apart of its 35th anniversary, the American Women's Association will unveil 'Flavourful Destinations' which it is confident will be a recipe for success.
Members will be celebrating the launch of their sixth cookbook since the organisation's inception in 1974 at a function at the La Fontaine Centre of Contemporary Art in Manama at 7pm on November 11.
President Mona Omar said: "The cookbook is a combination of cultures and reflects the spirit of our organisation. We began with only seven members and today we have grown to nearly 300 women representing more than 30 nationalities."
The cookbook's senior editor Valerie Bair Paulson believes it will be snapped up as a memoir to take back home having lived on the island and learning its culture.
She said: "Cookbooks are a standing traditional in the United States. You give a cook book to someone you love and care about.
"My grandmother gave me one a long time ago, which I still have today. It speaks so much about the history, culture and family of the time."
'Flavourful Destinations' is a compilation of more than 400 recipes contributed by 96 former and current members.
This year's cook book features a unique front cover, that of a painting by member and artist Carie SauzŽ.
Mrs Paulson said: "We proposed the idea to the AWA art group and asked them to come up with an idea for the cookbook cover. We had a mini vote and the cook book committee met and unanimously agreed with the message Carie's painting portrayed."
The cover features a Bahraini flag with a coffee pot, cups and a plate of dates with the backdrop of a palm tree symbolising the welcome and warmth of Bahrain.
Art teacher Carie, 57, from Budaiya, said: "For a cookbook you need a cover that hopefully draws the eyes to it and makes people want to buy it.
"I believe the Bahraini flag, coffee pot and dates give the book an identity and I feel very proud that my painting has been chosen. Valerie and the committee have done such a lovely job on the book."
The contributions shared by the ladies are recipes either passed down through generations of families or personal favourites creating a 'melting pot of cultures'.
The book's striking essence is its international collection spanning Bahraini, Indian, American, British, Scottish, Russian, Filipino, German, Korean, Lebanese, Egyptian, Honduran, Thai, Jordanian, Australian, Spanish, Turkish, South African, Indonesian, Danish, Irish as well as the Netherlands and New Zealand favourites.
Irina Averinos, an art teacher from Jerdaab, said: "I have contributed well-known and traditional Russian recipes.
"I think the idea of the cook book is brilliant for all who love good fo
od and it also proves very helpful for people who are just learning to cook. I have already bought copies of the book for my daughters who are married."
The book will be sold at the Good Life Gallery, The Conservatory cafe and other leading book stores for BD7.
The official launch reception will be held at La Fontaine between 7pm to 9pm. Entry is BD10 inclusive of beverages.
For details contact Mrs Paulson on 36353370.
A history of tasty titles
The first meeting of the American Women's Auxiliary, a subsidiary of the American Men's Association, was held at the American Club on September 10, 1974.
The following year, the club's first cookbook was published. In 1982, the second cookbook was launched titled Beginnings and Endings. For its 10th anniversary, the club became the American Women's Association and unveiled a third book entitled Tameta, meaning 'enjoy' in Arabic. In 1989 a copy was placed in the US Schlesinger Library as part of the 'History of Women in America' at Radcliff College, Massachusetts.
In 1993, the fourth cookbook was released and called Melting Pot to celebrate the association's 20th year and was premiered at the annual craft fair in Awali to reflect the group's 'melting pot' of nationalities. For its silver jubilee, in 1999, the AWA published the Silver Pantry Cookbook.
The book also featured the contributions of former US Ambassador Johnny Young, his wife Angelena as well as Lydia Moore, the wife of Vice-Admiral Charles Moore.
