Hidden Flavors of the Philippine Kitchen

Presented by Restaurateurs Amy Besa and Chef Romy Dorotan,
of Purple Yam, Brooklyn, NY & Manila, Philippines

There are many indigenous ingredients in the Philippines which need to be recognized as the foundation of Philippine food traditions. These indigenous ingredients represent Filipino flavor profiles which should be categorized as FOOD THAT WAS ALWAYS OURS opposed to Food that was borrowed and made our own. Continue reading

German Food and German Identity on Both Sides of the Atlantic: 20th-Century Germany and Contemporary Chicago

Part One:
Food and German Identity
from the Third Reich to the Berlin Wall
Alice Weinreb, PhD
Associate Professor of History, Loyola University Chicago

Part Two: (Starts at 46 minutes)
Beyond repletion: Discovering functions of German food in Chicago
Nadja Huthmann, M.A.
Cultural Anthropologist

Continue reading

From Cacao to Craft Chocolate Stories from the past, Sustainability for the Future

Presented by Valerie Beck,
Founder, Chocolate Uplift, and Valerie’s Original Chocolate Tours

Editor’s note: Podcast ends abruptly during question period due to unknown technical issues.

Video clips shown during this talk

Media montage
CNN Cocoanomics

According to Chicago native Valerie Beck, “chocolate can change everything, from our mood, to the world.” So passionate is Valerie about chocolate, that after graduating from Harvard Law school, and practicing in the United States and Europe, she followed her heart and founded Chicago Chocolate Tours in 2005, to introduce chocolate lovers to small-batch chocolate shops and bakeries. Continue reading

Swedish American Museum Tour

Discussion overview with Don Ahlm, Docent

Podcast of our tour at the Swedish American Museum. There was a security or medical device present but not identified until played back. The worst was removed.

The Swedish American Museum has been active for 40 years in the heart of Andersonville, a traditionally Swedish area on the north side of Chicago. Andersonville, the “Little Sweden” of Chicago, is one of the most concentrated areas of Swedish heritage in the United States, with Swedish roots dating back to the 19th century. Tourists visit the area continually to sample Swedish food, buy gifts, visit the Museum, and partake in traditional Swedish holidays such as Midsommar and Julmiddag. Continue reading

Old Husbands Tales: Barbecue Myths That Deserve to Die

Presented by Meathead 
Barbecue Maven and New York Times Best-Selling Author,
Meathead, the Science of Great Barbecue and Grilling

The barbecue world is rife with rules and concepts that modern food science has proven wrong, and our speaker, reverently known in BBQ-land as Meathead, will debunk a bunch of them and teach concepts and techniques that can be applied to cooking indoors as well. He will also serve up a side order of some delectable barbecue history, along with a small barbecue sampling. Continue reading