The Estevan Public Library’s latest International Cooking class brought together a full room of eager participants on Saturday as the group prepared a Greek creamy garlic shrimp pasta dish that filled the building with the smell of simmering garlic. “We had about 15 people turn out, and it was a lot of fun,” said adult programmer Anna Lawrence. “It smells really good in here, there’s the smell of garlic lingering.”
The recipe was instructed by Natalya Skrypnik who is connected to the library’s partnership with Southeast Advocates, who regularly help bring in newcomers to teach dishes from their home countries. “We have people from different cultures come and teach us how to make a food from their culture,” Lawrence said. “It’s great for them to practice the teaching, and it’s great for our patrons to learn about a dish from someone who makes it all the time.”
The Greek pasta was described as a well‑loved staple in its home country. “The woman who gave us the recipe says this is a very common and beloved dish in Greece,” Lawrence explained. “It’s a staple of coastal taverns across the country, and the shrimp pasta embodies the essence of a Greek summer.”
The cooking session didn’t come without a few hiccups. Thickening the sauce proved tricky, prompting a quick adjustment. “We could not get the sauce to thicken, so we had to add some cornstarch to get it to thicken up for us,” Lawrence said with a laugh.
But an even bigger interruption came when the fire alarm unexpectedly sounded just as everyone began to enjoy their food. “We had a fire alarm go off, so we had to evacuate the library, which is always fun,” Lawrence said. “Fortunately, we got everybody out pretty quick.” The group made the best of the disruption by turning it into an impromptu outdoor meal. “We were all eating when the thing went off, so everybody brought their little dishes out. We finished eating outside, and it was a great time.”
Lawrence ensured everyone was safely accounted for as they exited and waited to re‑enter. “Our patrons were able to keep track of if they were leaving or coming, so I knew I had all my people when we came back in,” she added.
Settlement Advisor Reanne Bert with Southeast Advocates on how the past International Cooking sessions have been going, “We had another successful cooking class. We are happy with the turnout and interest from the community. Learning different recipes has really been a great way for people to connect. It’s been very interactive, people have lots of questions and learn about the culture behind the food!”
With another successful, if slightly adventurous, class wrapped up, the library is already looking ahead. The next International Cooking session is planned for late April, and details will be shared once confirmed.
