“Kalamaja cookbook” is a product of the popular cooking evenings and a previous recipe exhibition that looks into the local food culture history through the local people.

Tallinn City Museum’s Kalamaja community museum has been created with Kalamaja residents. Because food and communal cooking unites every community, an open kitchen was made in the Kalamaja museum by demand of the people.

The “Flavours of Kalamaja” cooking events have become one of the most successful event series that is held in cooperation with the community. Everyone is welcome to cook under the guidance of previous and current Kalamaja residents and eat the products of their making. At the cooking events we have made traditional cold cut fingerfoods, as well as Brazillian and Mexican delicacies.

The cooking evenings have become popular among long-time residents but also new-comers of different ages. Inspired by these activities, there was an exhibition compiled by the museum and locals called “How does Kalamaja taste?” at the Balti Jaam market held from Feb-Apr 2023.

The cookbook is a continuation project to the cooking evenings and the exhibition. The book starts with a historical overview that gives a broader overview of the district’s food culture and is an excellent introduction to the residents’ recipes. Most of the dishes have been photographed in the peoples’ homes, of which some are still located in Kalamaja, but some farther where the dishes reminiscent of Kalamaja still create a cozy atmosphere. Some photos show tableware that has been used to set tables in the homes for decades. Other photos have been taken in the museum’s summer garden, livingroom and kitchen.

The book includes twenty eight recipes from seventeen authors. There are recipes like granny Bertha Marie’s mint gingerbread biscuits and marinated eel that have stayed with people even when life has taken them away from Kalamaja, where the flavour takes them back to warm childhood memories. There are dishes like Napoleon cake and spinach soup that have been made in Kalamaja by several generations. Additionally, there are brand new recipes that have been brought to Kalamaja from distant places — Võrumaa, Mexico, Ukraine, Brazil — and have now become part of the flavours of Kalamaja. For example the dishes kaerakiisla and chilaquiles.

The “Kalamaja cookbook” is part of Tallinn City Museum’s cookbook series, where the previous and first published book is “Peter the Great’s Cookbook”. The book series has been designed by renowned designer Angelika Schneider.
“Kalamaja cookbook” was compiled by previous Kalamaja museum curator and current community friend Maibel Napa. The editors are Maarja Valk and Klaire Kolmann and the author of the photographs is Tallinn City Museum’s photographer Meeli Küttim.

Thank you to the Kalamaja residents and community, who have shared their recipes and participated in the cooking evenings.

The cookbook premiere is taking place on November 13th at 18:00 in the Balti Jaam Market communal space on the second floor (near Humalakoda).

The book can be purchased at a discount price at the premiere!

The book is already available for purchase in Tallinn City Museum affiliate museums.
 

AVAILABLE ONLY IN ESTONIAN!