Contact: Dana Dorwart Coordinator of Visitor Services
603-783-9077 ext. 282
ddorwart@shakers.org

NEW EVENT IS SIMPLY FOOD, SIMPLY SHAKER
Shaker Village Celebrates Food as Shared Experience

Canterbury, NH—Saturday, May 31, 2008. Canterbury Shaker Village launches a new special event, Simply Food Day, 10:00-4:00. This event celebrates the art and enjoyment of food, in the Shaker tradition.

The Shakers are admired around the world for their furniture and design, craftsmanship, social progressiveness and invention; they were also a society that knew and appreciated good, natural and healthful food. The Shakers considered cooking more than nourishment; for them, it was also about nurturing, mindfulness of others, and community.

Eldress Bertha Lindsay, one of the last Canterbury Shakers, said in a 1990 statement, “Cooking is an art just as much as painting a picture or making a piece of furniture. For if a meal is prepared with fine produce, the natural cook knows how to give the special touch, not only making it eye appealing, but also delicious.”

In a fast-paced modern society where meals are often not shared, where aspiring cooks often learn from television shows instead of through shared experience, and where people are removed from the food producing process, many people are disconnected from the foods they prepare and eat.

At Simply Food Day, visitors can learn about the Shakers’ knowledge and appreciation of good, natural and healthful food by visiting demonstrations including the making of butter, cheese, candy, ice cream, maple syrup candy and applesauce; they can sample and purchase foods from food vendors. In the Dwelling House, visitors can learn about traditional Shaker recipes.

The event also includes cooking classes. Topics including growing and using hot peppers, using herbs in the kitchen, and making soft cheeses.

Simply Food Day will also feature the “Everybody Loves Pie” pie contest for those with the knack for pastry. Prizes awarded include cooking classes at The Shaker Table School of Cookery. For more information, rules and entry form, contestants can visit the website www.shakers.org

An assortment of Shaker cookbooks, including an edition of Eldress Bertha Lindsay’s recipes, as well as a number of other cookbooks are available at the Museum Store, newly located in the Visitor Education Center.

The Shaker Table Restaurant is open for lunch 11:30- 4:00, and for dinner 5:00-9:00. Visit www.theshakertable.com. Lighter fare is available at The Shaker Box Lunch.

Admission price is $15 for Adults, $13 for Seniors, $7 for Youths 6-18. Children under 6 are free. Group and family rates are available. Admission to the event includes all regular museum tours, demonstrations and exhibits.

Founded in 1969 to preserve the heritage of the Canterbury Shakers, Canterbury Shaker Village is an internationally-known, non-profit museum and National Historic Landmark with 25 original Shaker buildings, three reconstructed Shaker buildings and 694 acres of forests, fields, gardens, nature trails and mill ponds under permanent conservation easement. The Village is located 20 minutes north of Concord, NH, and 25 minutes south of Meredith, NH. Take I-93 to Exit 18 or Route 106 to Shaker Road.

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The Lakes Region Association is a non-profit tourism marketing organization that promotes the entire region. The association publishes the Where to! Lakes Region of New Hampshire, a comprehensive guide to the area, and Lakes Region Map and Guide. For a free vacation package call 1-800-60-LAKES.