Little Hay: A culinary Fable

The hedgerow animals experience conflict throughout the summer and decide to cook an
autumn feast together to celebrate their unity in the face of the coming winter.

It is a vegetarian menu
‘As far as I know, said the Hare, beets don’t have a very advanced sense of etiquette,
therefore it must be proper to dine on them.’

Animals in attendance.
Rabbit (hare)
Pheasant
Grouse
Pigeon
Squirrel (red) i.e. communist
Great tit
The Cat (villain)
Hedgehog
Quail
Wood mouse
Grass snake
Robin
Snail
Toad
Blackbird
Butterfly
Owl
Bat

Hawthorn
Honeysuckle
Bluebell
Rose
Nettle
Consciously modelled after wind in the willows, but with animals that are often game, or at
least have some obscure recipe. Try to leave out any animal in the willows.

This story was the inspiration for a later dinner party by people on a boat. They are talking
and the chef tells how he was inspired towards a favourable attitude regarding haute cuisine
by this book. So a story in a story,

Beetroot and olive pheasant, with carrot

Leek grass snake

Blackberries with mint, beetles with wings (dessert)

Courgette broccoli hedge hog

On a butter coriander sauce

Shredded Carrot rabbit on a bed of spinach

People on a raft
 Five chapters (seven)

Dinner
Setting
Problem
Escalation
Climax
Resolution
After Dinner

In a hedge near the river Wye on a warm afternoon in midsummer in runs (robin) and
complains to the occupant (rabbit) of the dwelling about the cat that is chasing him. They
have a calming cup of camomile and chat about the coming festival. And wait for dusk when
the cat goes home for its dinner.
One day while the rabbit was in her pantry sorting through her onions, the robin came rushing
into her kitchen.
‘What’s the matter, Robin?’ asked the concerned rabbit.
‘Oh, the cat as usual, she just loves making life difficult for everyone’ answered Robin.
‘‘Well, pay her no never mind, that’s just her way. Everything, and everyone, is just a game
to her.’