food history
Okra: From My Garden to the Frying Pan
This summer has been a wonderfully prolific okra season for me. Once the plants started blooming, I’ve been picking almost every day. And my favorite way to cook those beautiful little pods? Dredged in cornmeal and fried until they’re crisp…
The Summer Dinners of the African American South
The Summer Dinners of the African American SouthSaturday, September 19, 2026Join us for an extraordinary evening that celebrates the culinary heritage of the African American South—where history is preserved not only in documents and landscapes, but also at the table.…
How I teach canning at Indigo House – 2026
What I find most exciting about canning is understanding the processes. My classes are a day of hands-on experience. This five-hour class is strong on the up-to-date science, the tools, and the details of why we use approved USDA methods. …
A Delicious Aztec Dinner
Our Aztec Dinner at Indigo House, Saturday, August 15, 2026 Step back in time and discover how these flavors shaped the world! Our pre-Columbian-inspired meal takes us on an excursion of the floating permanent marketplaces of the city of Tenochtitlan. …
A Wine Party and Big Plans for My Summer
Wine festivities and fine food, what more could you ask for? The other evening, the celebrated chef Leah Branch and the Virginia Wine Collective, in collaboration with Monticello’s Getting Word project, threw a bash called a Feast of Reason. What…
Black History Month Dinner – 3 Centuries of Black Southern Cooks
Just a quickie to announce a dinner on Saturday, Feb 21 in celebration of Black History Month (or Valentine’s Day of you also want to celebrate it!). Our dinner will have dishes from 3 centuries of Black cooks with a…
