A BESPOKE menu reflecting the visceral themes of a confessional poet sounds a hard act to pull off but that’s the task chef Mary-Ellen McTague has set herself for a one-off supper club at The Creameries Chorlton.
John Cooper Clarke protege (but a distinctive voice in her own right) Toria Garbutt will read from her work at the Wilbraham Road eaterie/communal hub on Sunday, April 28. To match her words you’ll be offered five courses that have a certain poetry in their own right. Elegiacally all this creativity coincides with co-owner Mary-Ellen's confirmation she is stepping back from the day to day running of the Creameries to concentrate on such special events.
The food line-up is arrival snack – Killeen goats cheese, truffle and garlic chive toastie; bread and butter – sourdough wild garlic oil/ wild garlic butter; starter – Isle of White tomato and sorrel tart, grilled cucumber, fresh mascarpone; main course – poached cod or braised fennel, mushy peas and straw potatoes with lime pickle salt; dessert – milk and honey sherbet, apple blossom pudding & almond.
West Yorkshire raised Toria began writing poetry aged 13, subsequently finding inspiration in punk and Sylvia Plath. Veteran Manc poet Mike Garry introduced her to Cooper Clarke and she is now a special guest on his national tours.
Toria’s first published poetry collection, The Universe and Me (Wrecking Ball Press, £10), charts her life in the broken ex-mining town of Knottler through poems about love, motherhood, addiction, heartbreak, loss and abuse. Not sure how goat cheese toasties fir in but she’ll be signing copies at the supper club.
Sunday April 28. 7pm. The Creameries, 406 Wilbraham Road, Manchester M21 0SD. £35 plus booking charge. But tickets here.