The Mackem Cewkbewk: New Cookbook Celebrates Sunderland’s Rich Heritage Through Food and Local Dialect
Written by Grace Genevieve Stewart-Piercy on 4th November 2024
A new cookbook is celebrating the roles food and language have played in Sunderland’s cultural history. The Mackem Cewkbewk, written by Paul Swinney and published by A Supreme Love, delves into local dishes—both novel and traditional—and the unique dialect that has shaped the city’s identity.
For me, this marriage between local language and food represents the deep connection they both hold in shaping an individual’s identity, reflecting the heart of Sunderland’s cultural heritage.
Swinney said: “It is about celebrating the role that food plays in Wearside culture. If you think about other cultures around the world, it’s pretty hard to pull away the food from the other things that really makes them distinct. Food isn’t something that we really celebrate in Sunderland and the surrounding areas, but actually, there is something to look at and celebrate.”
One of the most eye-catching recipes is the Lambton Worm Cakes. They have a nostalgic feeling and are a lovely acknowledgment to some traditional folk law from the area which I believe often gets overlooked and forgotten about. For me, this recipe is helping to document the traditional myths and folk law from the area.
Photograph credit: Martyn McFadden
One of my favourite dishes included in the book is the Sunderland Fish Dhal Curry. This recipe really stood out to me as I held the vibrant, hardback book. It includes elements from Sunderland’s history of being home to a vitally important fishing industry, as well as inspiration from the Bangladeshi community the City is home to. Particularly poignant is the unity of both cultures and backgrounds in the dish, particularly against the backdrop of the racist riots in the summer.
When I asked Paul whether there was a link or an attempt to bridge communities, he said: “It is a great dish to try and symbolise the different communities we have in Wearside. Trying to get that wider representation and trying to celebrate that we are multicultural in our city now, and, that there are many different people living and contributing to our city. We’re better and stronger united, than fragmented.”
Photo credit: Martyn McFadden
Proceeds from the book are being donated to the Sunderland Community Soup Kitchen via the Roker Report’s annual Christmas Fundraiser.
Paul, said: “Buying the book is directly doing some good.”
Swinney added: “With the economy not doing very well over 15 years and the cost of living crisis over the last couple of years, Christmas really brings in to sharp view the amount of people in need.”
The hardback book is published by A Love Supreme Publications, and is available from A Love Supreme opposite the Stadium of Light and on line via this link https://www.a-love-supreme.com/shop priced £15.
