The World’s Oldest Continuously Operating Nursery has Quite a Tale

Presented by
Karen Mitcham-Stoeckley
Chef, Author, Restaurateur

The oldest fruit-tree nursery in the world is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year. The Missouri-based company, Stark Bro’s Nurseries & Orchards, was founded in 1816 by James Hart Stark, a young Kentucky pioneer, who homesteaded on the shores of the Mississippi. He brought with him a bundle of apple-tree scions that he planted. Today, the nursery is best known for introducing Red Delicious and Golden Delicious apples, which account for 40% of all apple sales, worldwide.

In conjunction with the nursery’s 200th anniversary, chef-author Karen Mitcham-Stoeckley will tell us all about the trials and tribulations of the company, its impact on America’s fruit legacy, and about the six generations of Starks who have run it, up to the present day. Chef Mitcham-Stoeckley has also written a fruit-only cookbook for the company, “Fabulous Fruits: Recipes for Every Season” (think Blueberry Lemon Scones, Pork Loin Cherry-Ancho, and Blackberry-Ricotta Cake); and she will have a bushel of tips for us on how to prepare and preserve fruit that’s available at the peak of its harvest. Do join us.

Biography: Karen Mitcham-Stoeckley is a caterer, executive chef, food writer and former restaurateur. She spent seven months in Les Arcs sur Argens, France, creating her first major cookbook, “Culinary Legacy…from Escoffier to Today.” She returns to France each spring/summer to teach cooking classes.

Saturday, May 14, 2016
10 a.m. to Noon
At
Kendall College, School of Culinary Arts
900 N. North Branch Street, Chicago
(Located just north of W. Chicago Ave. at N. Halsted St.)
Free Parking in lot on north side of school

Cost of the lecture program is $5, $3 for students and no charge for CHC members and Kendall students and faculty.

To reserve, please e-mail your reservation to: Culinary.Historians@gmail.com