Join us for a cozy winter evening of authentic 18th century food prepared by culinary historian Lavada Nahon, who will also present a lecture on the history of early American cookery! Lavada will explore the history of everyday dining in the early Republic, accompanied by a tasting buffet of common 18th century dishes.
Museum Member: $50
Public Ticket: $55
Menu
An evening’s entertainment with family & friends, often was a time called “Tea.” Enjoy some delicious sweet treats commonly served in the homes of the upper and middling classes.
Green and Black Tea
A Great Cake with Marzipan covering
Pound Cake scented with Rosewater
Jumbles – a rich butter cookie studded with caraway seeds
Little Ginger Cakes – crisp and spicy gingerbread cookies
Sweet meats – assorted dried fruit
Sugared almonds
Peppermint drops
Lavada Nahon is a culinary historian focused is on the 17th – 19th century mid-Atlantic region, with an emphasis on the work of enslaved cooks in the homes of the elite class. She has 18 plus years of public history experience working with a variety of historic sites, societies, and museums across the tri-state region. She has developed educational programs, after-school programs, lectures and tours, period presentations, and historic dinners for sites ranging from the New-York Historical Society, Albany Institute of Art and History, Dyckman Farm House Museum, Johnson Hall, and many more. She worked as a museum associate and educator for Historic Hudson Valley for 12 years at Van Cortlandt Manor and Philipsburg Manor Upper Mills, and as a production coordinator for their special events team for 3 years. Currently, she is on the reinterpretation team for Dey Mansion in Wayne, NJ, the home of the Passaic County Historical Society, and is also working with several other historic sites to give presence to the Africans once enslaved on their properties. As of two weeks ago, Lavada stepped into what she describes as her ‘dream job,’ she is the newly appointed interpreter for African American history for the Bureau of Historic Sites- a division of the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Her mission is to bring history to life both by its tastes and by giving presence to the Africans and African Americans enslaved in the landmass that was once New Netherland in whatever way possible.
