IW013 - Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society
Guernsey, an island in the English Channel, was occupied by Nazi Germany from June 30, 1940 until the end of World War II. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a fiction-based-on-fact account of how the people of the island tried to make it through those times. And we get an answer to the burning question: What is potato peel pie, really?!
Listen by clicking below.
Photo by Jan Antonin Kolar. Licensed through Unsplash.
Island Watch Picnic Picks
for The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Every Island Watch episode, we cook up a specialty picnic based on the film/tv we watched. For Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, our picnic is a little different. We’ll recreate the war-time feast - an exceptionally rare event - that the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society managed to pull off under the Nazi’s noses.
And we’ll also offer you a taste of modern Guernsey with some rib-sticking traditional fare.
Original-ish Menu for the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Dinner
Obtaining a cut of meat during the occupation was fully miraculous. This vintage recipe for roast pork. is how it would likely have been cooked.
The “star” of the meal was the potato peel pie. If you’re thinking this is like eating potato skins stuffed with cheddar cheese, sour cream, green onions, and other yummy bits...well, it’s not. No trouble keeping to keto if this is your option.
Isola, one of the club members, is known for her gin-making skills. We’re not encouraging anyone to fire up the DIY bathtub, but you can easily come up with your own unique boozy blend by infusing gin or vodka with herbs and spices.
Modern Menu for Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Guernsey bean jar is a centuries-old family meal. Traditionally, residents would drop off a jar of bean mixture at the town bakery to slow-cook in the residual heat of the bakery oven on Sunday, the shop’s day off. That’s efficiency! Monday was laundry day, and with all the washing, the bean jar was a ready-to-serve meal that sometimes stretched til Tuesday for ironing day! Traditional or vegetarian, the word is Bean Jar tastes best on Day 2, so plan ahead. Dress it up with fresh herbs, and you can have a different version each day.
Guernsey gâche (pronounced gosh) is a tasty fruit loaf perfect with a good slathering of rich Guernsey butter and a cup of tea. Even though gâche means cake in Guernasiais (an old French tongue that was Guernsey’s official language until 1948), it’s actually a yeasted bread.
Why not a Gin Tasting? Depending on where you are in the world, you may be able to lay your hands on some genuine Guernsey Gin. For most of us though, it’s using fresh herbs and other greenery in our own blends - try these top chef recipes.
The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society : Studiocanal
Island Cast
Who brings the characters of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society to life?
Juliet Ashton: Lily James
Dawsey Adams: Michiel Huisman
Elizabeth McKenna : Jessica Brown Findlay
Amelia Maugery: Penelope Wilton
Isola Pribby: Katherine Parkinson
Eben: Ramsey: Tom Courtenay
To learn more about the rest of the cast, listen to Island Watch!
Photo by Clint McKoy. Licensed through Unsplash.
Ratings
Here’s how we rate the shows we watch. To help you head for the island show that's exactly right for you, we answer two questions:
Does this show make me feel like I’m actually on the island? That's our specialized Island Rating. No other show gives you that!
Do we recommend this show? Our Star Rating lets you know if we loved a show or not, regardless of the island.
***
Island Rating
Gemma: Splashing in the Surf (5 out of 5)
Guernsey is brought to life, but listen to the podcast for the stunning secret of all those lush views.
Dave: Splashing in the Surf (5 out of 5)
The shore, the hills, the cliffs … and a look at hat life was like on the island during that specific period in history.
Star Rating:
Gemma: 4 out of 5
Two hours goes by quickly with luminous leads and an interesting story.
Dave: 4 out of 5
Definitely worth viewing. Great narrative, a journey of discovery; well written, acted and executed.
Photo by Haaish Umair. Licensed through Unsplash.
Find The Island
A mystery within a mystery: Gemma discovers what a Blue Hole is!
Photo by Evi Radauscher. Licensed through Unsplash.
Our Next Island
Our next island: Maybe infusing gin for our Guernsey picnic has got you in the mood to mess around more in the kitchen. Or maybe you are looking for some sunshine-laden new foods and flavours to add to your repertoire. We’ve got you! We’re heading to the Caribbean archipelago with Chef Ainsley Harriot to cook up a storm with Ainsley's Caribbean Kitchen.
Photo by Scott Van Hoy. Licensed through Unsplash.
Messages In A Bottle
The best way to get in touch with us is by email.
Send your questions and comments to us at:
islandwatchpodcast@gmail.com