Category Archives: Greater Midwest Foodways

Eat, Drink and Be Merry: The History of Food and Hospitality in Lake County, Illinois

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YouTube, part one from January 5, 2023
YouTube, part two from January 19, 2023
Podcast list of complete and individual sessions

Libertyville —- Bess Bower Dunn Museum will host its Eighth Annual Lake County History Symposium on ‘Eat, Drink and Be Merry: The History of Food and Hospitality in Lake County,’ presented via Zoom on Thursday, January 5 at 7:00 PM and Thursday, January 19 at 7:00 PM. Zoom link free due to a grant from USG.    

The Lake County History Symposium is an annual gathering of people interested in the history of Lake County, Illinois. Professional, amateur, and student historians offering presentations based on their original historical research using primary and secondary sources. Continue reading →

From ‘Peanut Weddings’ to ‘Beef Stands’: The Socio-Culinary History of Chicago’s ‘Italian Beef’

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Podcast

Italian beef sandwich from Al’s Beef in Chicago, a picture courtesy of Dominic Armato.

Italian Americans have contributed a considerable number of portable fast foods to regional and local cuisines around the United States, some of which have become extremely popular at the national level. One such food which, despite its frequent discussion in recent food-related media, has remained very much a local dish is Chicago’s ‘Italian beef’. Continue reading →

Women, Philanthropy, Recipes, and Social Progress: A Reexamination of Primary Resources

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Podcast

These presentations were made at the Illinois History Conference at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in October, 2021. Since this is ongoing research, there will be additional information learned after this event. Continue reading →

Crofton Cook Book Club: Manuscript Cook Book from Fort Sheridan, 1895

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Excerpt from 1895 manuscript cook book
Dive into the Dunn Museum’s collection to explore an 1895 cookbook that was used at Fort Sheridan with guest speaker Catherine Lambrecht and Museum Educator Nicole Stocker. Participants are invited to test out recipes from the cookbook prior to the program to then share their experiences along with the presenters, though it is not required to join the program. Recipe options will be emailed to participants prior to the program and can be found on the Dunn Museum’s YouTube channel under #NotDunnYet.

Continue reading →