I’m so happy to share with you 3 seasonally relevant topics that are part of a new Summer Series of TFG Culinary History Convos taking place at Lefferts Historic House! This pilot program is part of Prospect Park Alliance’s “Reimagine Lefferts” Initiative that intends to“re-envision the mission and programming of the Lefferts Historic House museum to focus its interpretation and programming on exploring the lives, resistance and resilience of the Indigenous people of Lenapehoking, whose unceded ancestral lands the park and house rests upon, and the African-originated humans held in the bondage of chattel slavery to work that land, prepare food for and live in servitude to the family that enslaved them .” ~ Text adaptation from the ‘Reimagine Lefferts’ mission statement
It’s my motto that food and drink are optimal talismans through which to ‘time travel’ and make greater sense of our shared past. Accordingly, the main topic for each talk is a ‘singular’ Summer food staple — affiliated with the historic house — which is also an every day item that’s had multitudinous impact on the world at large. The selected food items in sequential order are: Vanilla Ice Cream (on Sat July 22nd) ; Watermelon on ; and Corn (this event — now on Sat Aug 5th (was originally scheduled to kick off this mini series on Sun July 16th but got rescheduled due to rain) ;
Corn is such a profoundly world-changing crop that originates with the cultivating genius of indigenous North and Meso-American people thousands of years ago. The culinary ingenuity of continental Africans, enslaved Africans and emancipated African-Americans transformed variations of corn (meal, ‘mush’, etc.) into some of our nation’s (and the world’s) most beloved classic sets of recipes and ‘side dishes’ since this nation’s inception. ( In fact, July 16th — this event’s original date was National Corn Fritters Day — meant to celebrate a delicious snack/side dish created by skilled Black American Southern cooks centuries ago — a well-seasoned and often herbed ‘deep-fat frying’ food preparation that started with their African continental forbearers centuries before that…).
Join me and Prospect Park Alliance on Saturday August 5th for a fun FREE and family-friendly culinary history workshop at the Lefferts Historic House. Come learn about the past and present role of “Queen & King Corn“ in Brooklyn and beyond and help re-imagine food programming at Lefferts Historic House. You’ll learn about one of the world’s most important food crops, plus how it was planted, harvested and prepared by the people who lived and worked at this longstanding, local historic treasure (aka Lefferts Historic House) once upon a time. Special corn treats will be prepared and served!
EVENT DETAILS:
• This event takes place Saturday afternoon August 5th 2:00-4:00pm (feel free to stop by anytime during that 2 hr time window, the earlier the better if you want the ‘whole story’…+ FREE SNACKS!)
• LOCATION: 452 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11225 — INSIDE OF PROSPECT PARK
[DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE MERRY-GO-ROUND & the PROSPECT PARK ZOO.]
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I hope to see you there! … in the meantime be sure to SIGN UP to STAY IN THE LOOP for The Food Griot’s occasional EMAIL Updates, Food & Drink News & SCOOP! Join my TFG PATREON for exclusive content, one-on-one sessions and special behind-the-scenes highlights and insights…
See also VANILLA ICE CREAM (on 7/22)
and WATERMELON (on 7/29) *******************