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Dames Who Read - June 19, 2018

EIGHT FLAVORS The Untold Story of American Cuisine
by Sarah Lohman

When you reach into your cupboard to make a dish or a meal, how do you choose to flavor it? Do you choose the pepper and vanilla used by your mother or grandmother, or do you choose flavors you have added to your constant repertoire more recently? And do you ever wonder how those now-common flavors, almost all originally from far-flung lands, got into our American kitchens and into everyday recipes?

Author Sarah Lohman wondered. So she built a graph of flavors that were the most used or most found in American culinary texts from 1796 up to the 2000s. She studied how and when they came to American. And how some flavors grew in popularity while others disappeared. Then she narrowed the list to the eight which her study determined were the most popular over all the years and across America.

Her book looks at the culinary history of those 8 flavors what they are and how they got to America, and how they became standards in our current American kitchens.

We will have the perfect guides in our discussion when Tom and Patty Erd lead us, sharing stories of those specific flavors and how they apply to the history and trends of spice use. Spice House has exclusively sold spices for 6 decades and carries most of the ones mentioned in the book. In their hands-on contact with both chefs and home cooks, Tom and Patty have had a front-row seat to watch the trends that come and go, or come and stay.

Following the presentation at The Spice House, we will walk to Kamehachi Restaurant for dinner and further discussion about what has always been in the front row of your home spice cabinet. Your own most popular flavors may not match Sarahs choices, but the discussion should offer a lively bit of history, preferences and great taste.

*If the weather cooperates, we hope to be able to be outside, so dress appropriately

Tuesday, June 19, 2018
6:00pm - 8:30pm
The Spice House
1512 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610

Parking: Street parking is metered and limited
Registration is limited and closes at noon on Friday, June 15