What a Newfoundland Kitchen Party is Really Like

Here, Lynn Crawford is on her way to Wanda and Ray Palmer’s home in St. John’s, N.L., where they’re hosting a party in celebration of Wanda’s birthday. While no formal invitation is typically needed, Wanda and Ray are expecting Lynn so they can show her how to cook a bunch of dishes, including Ray’s signature cod tongues.

As soon as Lynn arrives, it’s time to roll up her sleeves to prep the cod tongues with Ray. Also on the counter is fresh cod for frying and squid for stuffing.

Lynn is no stranger to getting a little messy in the kitchen! Here, she’s battering some cod that will be panfried.

Yum! Being served is stuffed baked squid, panfried cod, Ray’s famous cod tongues with scrunchions and hot-from-the-pan fish cakes. Let’s party!

Since dinner guests always gravitate toward the kitchen, Newfoundlanders call it for what it is: a kitchen party. You can expect to have way more fun at one of these events than any stuffy formal dinner!

What’s going on here? These are mummers, a special breed of Newfoundland kitchen party crasher who arrives disguised to dance, play music and add an air of mischief to the scene. After a free drink or two, they go merrily on their way (presumably to the next kitchen party!).

If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em! It wouldn’t be a kitchen party without everyone dancing, after all.

Singing, dancing, clapping and nibbling away on food on the counter is what a good Newfoundland party is all about.

After a long night of feasting and good banter, Lynn, Ray and Wanda finish off the evening with a few photos. Happy birthday, Wanda!