Inevitably, a crude variation of the spoon was likely one of the first tools that people
ever used, fashioned of wood, rock, or shell. To scoop water, to stir a mixture, to move
foodstuffs from bowl to mouth—the spoon is culturally ubiquitous and universally
recognized as a tool used for eating and cooking. Consider, too, the spoon as instrument
or tool. Spoons have also taken on cultural, artistic, academic, romantic, and religious
meanings. Traci will review the travels of the humble spoon during this month’s talk,
bringing along some of her own collection for viewing, including hand carved wooden
spoons that are so worn down that they no longer can serve as spoons!

Traci Nathans-Kelly currently teaches technical communication in the College
of Engineering at the UW-Madison. However, her dissertation in English was
entitled “Burned Sugar Pie: Women’s Cultures in the Literature of Food.” This topic is an
extention of her love for culinary history in its often “unseen” artifacts.

Contact: Joan Peterson at 608-233-5488, joan@eatsmartguides.com
Culinary History Enthusiasts of Wisconsin (CHEW), February 1st
Meeting, 7:15 PM

Meeting Venue: Goodman Atwood Community Center, Bolz Room A;
149 Waubesa Street, Madison 53704; 608-241-1574.
To get on the mailing list, or for more information, call Joan Peterson at 608-233-5488
or Jean DeVore at 608-836-1368.