Chance to win signed bestselling novels as we revive Regency ‘nuncheon’
We’re asking you to help us revive the Regency meal of ‘nuncheon’ by entering a recipe competition we’re running (November 2023).
We’d like ideas for cake or bread we don’t already make that would be suitable as a mid-morning or afternoon snack. The best two will win two novels each.
Sunday Times Bestselling novelist
Matt Baker, our Director, says: “A few months ago we were delighted to have Sunday Times Bestselling novelist, Sophie Irwin visit our bakery as part of the book signing and Q&A sessions she was doing with the charity Communicare, which we’re the commercial arm of. All our proceeds go towards Communicare and its work enriching the lives of lonely and isolated people in and around Southampton.
“When Sophie came to see us, she very kindly left us some signed copies of her novels, which are both based in the Regency era, for us to use for a competition. We were delighted to see the latest book features the meal nuncheon, which we’d never heard of before! But after Sophie explained it to us, we thought it was worthy of revival and wanted to get as many suggestions as possible from people for what they might like to eat for it that we don’t already do.”
Nuncheon
Nuncheon is an old Anglo-Saxon word, which means, in today’s terms, a quick snack between main meals that you can hold in your hands. It was also used in Regency times, before lunch was popularised. It’s thought it comes from the word ‘nuch’, which was used in the 16th and 17th centuries and meant a piece of bread.
Mid-morning or afternoon snack
Author Sophie, who grew up in Dorset, explains: “It’s great that people are talking about nuncheon and reviving it, especially during the winter months. This is a wonderful idea for a competition! From my research, for my latest book, I discovered it can be any kind of mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack of bread or cake.
“In the Regency, they didn’t have a sit-down lunch per se, but snacky moments through the day and this was one of them. I’m looking forward to seeing some of the recipes when they come in to CommuniBakes and I’m hoping some people will do some historical research and give their ideas a Regency twist. I imagine Bath buns will be mentioned!”
Sophie’s books
Sophie’s new book ‘A Lady’s Guide to Scandal’ was published at the end of the summer on the same day that the paperback edition of her first novel ‘A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting’ came out.
Sophie has spent years immersed in studying historical fiction, from a dissertation on how Georgette Heyer helped win World War Two, to time spent in dusty stacks and old tomes losing herself in Regency London researching her books.
Matt adds: “Southampton has strong links to a hugely famous Regency novelist. Jane Austen visited and lived in the city, and even danced at the Dolphin Hotel, now a Mecure, in the late 1700s, so I’m sure today’s city residents will have plenty of ideas for cakes and bakes that would be perfect for revising nuncheon!
How to enter
“With Sophie’s help our panel of judges will pick two joint winners, who will be revealed on CommuniBakes social media pages on January 2, 2024. They will be asked to collect their prizes, two books Sophie has signed, and have their photos taken for publicity, including social media, at a mutually convenient time, during our normal opening hours after January 2. This is an adult only competition. The judges’ decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into. Full terms and conditions can be found on our website.”
Recipe entries from adults only should be submitted via our social media pages, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter by direct message or dropped in at the bakery at 21, St James Road by hand, complete with contact details.
The closing date is 3pm on Friday, December 15, 2023. The winning two entries will be contacted in the new year and invited to the bakery to accept their prizes and details will be announced on social media and the bakery website.
Who we support
All profits from all our bakes sold go towards the charity Communicare and the work it does to help lonely and isolated people across Southampton. Annie Clewlow, Communicare’s Manager, says: “We’re thrilled to be working with Sophie again and collaborating on this competition at CommuniBakes and I’m really looking forward to seeing all the entries. Nuncheon sounds like a great idea and I’m definitely going to start eating it.”
Full terms and conditions
Normal CommuniBakes competition rules apply and include as follows:
- Entries from adults only will be accepted.
- Entries should be submitted via CommuniBakes social media pages, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter by direct message or dropped in at the bakery at 21, St James Road by hand, complete with contact details.
- Entrants may submit more than one entry.
- The closing date for entries is 3pm on Friday, December 15, 2023.
- Entries submitted after the closing date will not be counted.
- The winners will be chosen by the judges from all eligible entries.
- The two joint winners will be revealed on CommuniBakes social media pages on January 2, 2024.
- The judges’ decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.
- There are no cash or other alternatives to the prize. It is as stated and is non-transferable.
- Employees of CommuniBakes, and members of their immediate family, and anyone connected to the competition are not eligible to enter.
- The winners will need to collect their prizes from CommuniBakes at a mutually convenient time, during normal opening hours, after January 2.
- Participants will have their photograph taken with their prize for CommuniBakes’ social media and for online and print press. By entering this competition, you have given permission for, and to take part in, publicity, including use of images and use of your full name.