Cookbook revival: Old Sütterlin recipes rediscovered in Güstrow!

Cookbook revival: Old Sütterlin recipes rediscovered in Güstrow!

In Güstrow, a new cookbook is bringing a breath of fresh air to the culinary community: Andy Haensch, the owner of the Anmut-Bar, has published a work that contains old recipes in the fascinating Sütterlin script. This font, which became popular in the 19th century and was used in Germany until 1941, brings back memories of a time when recipes contained not only information about dishes, but also stories about sustainable food preparation. As a child, Haensch spent a lot of time with his grandparents and learned to read Sütterlin there. This is how his passion for ancient writing came about.

The book, entitled “My Old Cookbook,” presents over 200 recipes that Haensch painstakingly transcribed from an old book and translated into modern German. He worked for over six months to decipher the sometimes complex, handwritten script. In addition to the recipes for soups, vegetables, sauces, cakes and much more, the original pages with the translated texts can also be found, which offers a unique insight into the family traditions of cooking.

Sustainability and historical insights

A notable example from the book is the “bread dumpling soup,” which certainly delighted many families 150 years ago. Haensch highlights the importance of the old recipes, which often show sustainable use of animals and aim to waste as little as possible. Some recipes, like the one for the “Old Hen in Good Sauce”, have a Beenelia-like humor and bring us closer to the reality of the time, in which the preparation and origin of the food played a major role.

“My old cookbook” is not just a cookbook, but also a piece of cultural history. The Uwe Johnson Library has already requested a copy, and interested readers can order the book via the Anmut Bar website. It illustrates how important it is to preserve our culinary roots.

Sütterlin courses for everyone

In addition to the cookbook, there is also the opportunity to learn Sütterlin. Providers like Time magnifiers offer courses designed for both individuals and professionals. These training courses are particularly useful for government and institutional employees who frequently work with historical documents. With such training, you gain a sense of the beauty of ancient writing and can even decipher old family texts such as recipes or letters that have been passed down through generations.

A textbook by Vasco Kintzel, which is on Amazon is available, makes reading the Sütterlin script easier and offers structured exercises for improvement. In this way, everyone can uncover the secrets of their family history and immerse themselves in the time when reading and writing by hand had a completely different status.

The offer from Haensch and the course providers is truly an enrichment for all wine lovers and history fans who want to rediscover the ancient knowledge about our eating habits and the art of writing.