Food / Art in Birmingham’s Gulp – Sept 22

Gulp is a creative dining room founded by food and sensory artist Kaye Winwood in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. She programs events and activities for curious appetites with a desire for unique experiences. Here’s a line-up of the delicious events popping at Gulp in September 2022.

Jewellery Quarter/Gulp; Saturday 17 September, 11am-2pm

GLISTEN provides a fabulous opportunity to join acclaimed artist Tom Hicks (aka Black Country Type), the award-winning poet Liz Berry, and sensory artist Kaye Winwood for a unique, creative workshop fusing together photography, food and poetry.

This three part event will focus on the overlooked objects and architecture that we walk past every day; tuning our senses to the neglected beauty that can often be found in abandoned things if only we hold our nerve and gaze.

Starting in a secret location, guests will take a photo-walk around the historic Jewellery Quarter led by artist Tom Hicks. Attendees should bring a camera or smartphone to document their finds.

The participants will then head to Gulp – a private dining room founded by artist Kaye Winwood – where Tom Hicks will talk about his practice and invite the participants to share the images they’ve taken. 

Kaye Winwood will present a sensory response to the Jewellery Quarter and talk through these interpretations, inviting participants to taste and smell together.   

Finally, Liz Berry will lead a poetry workshop, using maps, words and image to create new meanings. 

GLISTEN will be a feast for the eyes, minds and senses. No previous experience of photography or creative writing is needed for this event, just a curious appetite.

£35 Tickets here – price includes guided walk, tasting/refreshments, poetry workshop over 3 hours

More info:

Liz Berry’s first book of poems, Black Country (2014), is a ‘sooty, soaring hymn to her native West Midlands’ (The Guardian) and received a Somerset Maugham Award, the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Award and Forward Prize for Best First Collection (2014). Her pamphlet The Republic of Motherhood (2018) was a Poetry Book Society Pamphlet Choice and the title poem won the Forward Prize for Best Single Poem (2018).

Tom Hicks is the artist behind the documentary photography project Black Country Type. His work explores the post-industrial landscape of the region, focusing on words, typography, handmade lettering and signs. His work has been published and exhibited widely, most recently in the photobook I.D.S.T (2020) and a solo exhibition at Wolverhampton Art Gallery (2020).

Liz Berry and Tom Hicks have recently collaborated on The Dereliction (2021), a love letter to the post-industrial landscapes of the Black Country. 

Mangia! Mangia! Supperclub

Saturday 24 September, 7.30pm

Mangia! Mangia! Supperclub is a taste of Italian right here in the heart of Birmingham. Taste the fresh Italian produce straight from Matt’s allotment as well as the likes of  ‘Zuppa Inglese’ – an Italian inspired trifle, with vanilla custard, chocolate custard, cake and home-made Alchermes (pictured above).

Founder Matt O’Callaghan is a cook, grower, writer and teacher of food, specialising in traditional Italian and British recipes. Much of the food he cooks is grown on his own Birmingham allotment, demonstrating that you don’t have to live in Italy to grow Mediterranean food Mouthfuls such as Salame di cioccolato (a wonderful, edible joke – chocolate and nuts dressed up to look like a tied up sausage) and home-made Italian liquer Alchermes have proved popular with our guests.

His writinghas received praise from Nigella Lawson, Rachel Roddy and Diana Henry. He is currently working on a new piece for Vittles. 

Tickets available here – £50 includes welcome drink, food, and coffee & digestivo. 

We will be announcing Mangia! Mangia! pasta and Italian sweet workshops soon – including Cotognata (fruit jellies made in antique moulds), pictured above.