The Aurora Public Library (APL) will welcome Culinary Curiosity, an exhibit experience which will feature cooking and food-related artifacts from the 19th Century and early 20th Century. On public display for the first time October 4 through January 5, 2020, Culinary Curiosity exhibit is from the personal collection of Mel and Janet Mickevic and is made available to four powerhouse libraries, including Gail Borden Public Library, in Elgin, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Schaumburg Township Public Library, and the Aurora Public Library.
Sponsored by Kendall College Trust, Culinary Curiosity was originally featured at Kendall College in Chicago, as an education piece for students enrolled in its Culinary Arts School.
The Santori Library Atrium will be the showcase for the Liquid Refreshments and Global Gastronomy stories within the larger Culinary Curiosity exhibition. “This is the first-ever exhibit share of this kind, and the Aurora Public Library is thrilled to be part of this experience with such amazing libraries in Illinois,” said Krista Danis, APL events and program coordinator. “We encourage our customers to travel to Elgin, Schaumburg, and Arlington Heights, as well as Santori Library right here in Aurora, to get the full Culinary Curiosity story, and win prizes at the same time.”
Why the Liquid Refreshments and Global Gastronomy? With a diverse range of social gathering spaces to choose from, downtown Aurora speaks to the collective human drinking experience, from chatting over tea at Calla Lily Victorian Tea Room to a celebratory toast with unique brews at Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora. Collaboration and partnerships, as well as the strong bonds of friends and family, are forged between sips from all manner of vessels as we explore the various methods of liquid refreshment used throughout history and across the globe.
Likewise, we will offer Global Gastronomy in honor of the unique diversity of our Aurora community. In this collection, there will be tea poured in early 20th Century India and the aeration of cocoa in Mexico.
There will be an official kickoff when we unveil the Culinary Curiosity Exhibition on First Fridays, October 4, with a global celebration for all ages! The evening will start at 6 p.m. with a beer-tasting, Hispanic Heritage Month craft for kids, and exclusive tastings from Chupacabra Puerto Rican food truck for the first 200 library visitors. Music by local legends Chicago Latin Groove, an 11-piece band offering high-energy tropical tunes, will get everyone’s feet moving.
A Culinary Curiosity passport to earn prizes by visiting two or more Culinary Curiosity libraries will be available. Passports will be available at First Fridays, October 4. Participants can resent a passport at any exhibit location to view as much of the collection as possible, collecting stamps and prizes along the way. The exhibits will include:
• Equipment Evolution at Arlington Heights Memorial Library;
• Sweets and Dairy at the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin;
• Cider and Meat at the Schaumburg Township Public Library;
• Liquid Refreshments and Global Gastronomy at the Santori Library.
Do you have a recipe to share? Stop by Santori Library any time between October 4 and January 5, 2020 or find access to the upcoming Culinary Curiosity Tours Libraries’ website, culinarycuriositytourslibraries.com, to add a favorite recipe to our shared cookbook.
Miriam Meza-Gotto is communications manager for Aurora Public Library.