Four Centuries of CT Food to be Parsed at Pardee-Morris House

Due to the oppressive heat forecasted for the coming  weekend, the presentation, “A History of Connecticut Food,” that was scheduled for Sunday, July 21, 2019, will now be held on Sunday, August 4 at 2 p.m. at the Pardee-Morris House.

Never one to mince words, 19th-century educator, author and Connecticut resident Catherine Beecher once declared: “There is nothing worse for the health, or for the palate, than a poor hash, while a good hash is not only a favorite dish in most families but an essential article of economy and convenience.” Authors Eric D. Lehman and Amy Nawrocki have taken Beecher’s words to heart and will enlighten contemporary Connecticans with a fine recipe for red flannel hash during a presentation based on their book, “A History of Connecticut Food,” at the Pardee-Morris House.

Partners in life as well as in scholarly pursuits, the wedded pair has collected remarkable food facts you may not have realized you need to know. For example, you may have intuited that our forebears consumed an array of wildlife in previous centuries, but owl chowder…? And though you may associate “sweet and sour” with Asian food, it was in fact a flavor loved by Connecticut colonists, especially with pork. During their presentation, Lehman and Nawrocki will share fascinating stories behind nearly four centuries of American eating and the choice of crops cultivated, livestock raised, and seafood that has formed a distinctive Connecticut cuisine.

Lehman and Nawrocki both teach English and creative writing at the University of Bridgeport and coauthored “A History of Connecticut Wine: Vineyard in Your Backyard.” Lehman 's essays, reviews and stories have appeared in dozens of journals and magazines. His books include “Becoming Tom Thumb,” “Shadows of Paris,” and “The Quotable New Englander.” Nawrocki is an award-winning poet whose collections include “Reconnaissance,” “Four Blue Eggs," and "Mouthbrooders."

The Museum thanks UI/Lighting Up the Arts; The Howard Gilman Foundation; East Shore Management Team; Knights of Columbus, Rodrigo Council #44; the DeCola Family and other Morris Cove neighbors for supporting the 2019 summer season.