Pastrami on Rye: An Overstuffed History of the Jewish Deli

Presented by
Ted Merwin, PhD

In Chicago, New York, L.A. and other American cities, the delicatessen was the lifeblood and the linchpin of the Jewish community. The “soul food” and atmosphere it dished up became a quintessential part of American culture for Jews and non-Jews alike.  But as Jews moved into the suburban middle class, the deli lost its bite, giving way to other ethnic restaurants and cuisines. Can the deli be resurrected. Continue reading

“More than Just Tapas” Food trends and culture in 21st-century Spain

Presented by
Blanca Valencia
Spanish Food Specialist, Cooking Teacher

https://soundcloud.com/chicago-amplified/much-more-than-tapas-food

In the last decade Spain has earned a reputation as a star of the culinary world, but this honor is not due to paella or tortilla but to molecular gastronomy. In a country so rich in regional foods, culture and products, this association is not always fair or correct. Continue reading

Food Writing Workshop

Presented by
Andrew Smith
Food Scholar, Editor and Author

This fast-paced workshop covers the basics: query letters, writing articles for newspapers and magazines, food book and cookbook proposals, ebooks, recipe writing, restaurant reviewing, blogging, etc. It is intended as a brief introduction for those interested in entering the field. Continue reading

American Tuna and Drinking: A Doubleheader

Presented by
Andrew Smith
Food Scholar, Editor and Author

Andy Smith, one of our nation’s most eminent food historians has so much information to dish out, that he’s going to give us a two-subject lecture, based on his latest books: American Tuna—the Rise and Fall of an Improbable Food, and Drinking History: 15 Turning Points in the Making of an American Beverages. Continue reading

Julia’s Cats: Julia Child’s Life in the Company of Cats

Presented by Terry Burson, Author

“A house without a cat is like a day without sunshine, a pie without fromage, a dinner without wine.” — Julia Child

The world knows Julia Child as the charismatic woman who brought French cuisine to America and became a TV sensation, but there’s one aspect of her life that’s not so familiar. Soon after the Childs arrived in Paris in 1948, a French cat appeared on their doorstep, and Julia recalled, “Our domestic circle was completed.” Minette captured Julia’s heart, igniting a lifelong passion for cats equaled only by her love of food and her husband, Paul. Continue reading