By Susie Hovater Malone
Lifestyles Columnist

The GFWC Book Lovers Study Club’s May meeting offered a unique dinner experience for twenty-three ladies who traveled to The House of Plenty in Hamilton, Ala.

Book Lovers hostesses Cheri McCain and Martha Sibley arranged for the private Chef’s Table event about two months prior to our May meeting. This was a ticketed event in which attendees just sat back, relaxed and watched while Jonathan Moore and his team prepared a four-course Italian dinner. We learned about the preparation of the ingredients, seasoning of Italian food and much more.  

“I desire to share my love for the art of hospitality, an art lost to many in this virtual day and age,” Moore said. “Hospitality is about more than meals—it is about opening your life and your home. It is about beautiful spaces and places, presentation and so much more.” Moore was born and raised in the Midwest but moved to Alabama in 2011 where he found himself working in restaurant kitchens and gaining unique experiences with food. In 2021, he and his wife, Kalyn, launched the House of Plenty Studio Kitchen in downtown Hamilton, where they host beautiful events, cooking classes, catering services, weddings, showers and other special events.

The Studio Kitchen offers cooking classes twice a month and Take-Home Tuesday meals every Tuesday. It’s never too early to start planning an event at the House of Plenty Studio Kitchen. They plan and post events to their calendar several months in advance, and it will be an experience you will enjoy. For more information, visit the House of Plenty Studio Kitchen on Facebook.

In recognition of our Celebrating Our Everyday Heroes project, members approved a $105 donation to the Russellville Fire Department Annual Safety Education Program. 
The winner from the Mother’s Day Basket fundraiser is John Payne. This was the first time Book Lovers Study Club has sponsored this type of fundraiser, and it was a success.

President Brenda Oliver reported that Book Lovers Study Club received several awards at the GFWC Alabama Convention. Book Lovers also received the University of Alabama Scholarship, and it was presented at the Russellville High School awards night program May 22. Susie Hovater Malone received the GFWC Alabama Jennie award. She will be judged at the GFWC Southern Region Conference which will be held in Biloxi, Miss., in October.