Culinary Heritage Classes
2025 class registration opens in December 2024.
There are many ways to study history... including with food! This Fall, we're taking deep dive into the culinary heritage of Jolly's Mill Pond and our region with a special focus on Black and Indigenous culinary heritage.
Each class is an immersive learning experience where students will:
-identify ingredients,
-harvesting ingredients (when possible),
-learn their role in our local foodway,
- and prepare these ingredients in a heritage recipe.
Classes will be held at Jolly's Mill Pond with virtual classes coming soon.
2025 Classes
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Taste History
“Taste History” is an outdoor demonstration to kick off our culinary heritage series. In our culinary heritage classes, we’ll explore historic Southern, Black, and Indigenouse recipes of our foodway.
The demonstrations will be led by our culinary heritage instructors, Justin Luis Diaz, who will explore heritage breads like Johnnycakes and biscuits. Then Rebecca Suerdieck will demonstrate historic cheesemaking and create farmer's cheese.
How to Cook Over an Open Fire
This is a beginner-level class for people who want to learn time-honored techniques of cooking over an open fire. In this class, you'll learn historic techniques for:
- starting a fire with minimal material,
- regulating temperature and basic cooking tips,
- using historic tools.
The class concludes with the preparaton of a simple, wood-fired dish.
The History of Okra
As a heritage food, okra is a great ingredient to explore. In this class, you'll learn about:
- it's African orgins,
- it's journey through the Transatlantic Slave Trade to the South, and
- how it landed on Southern plates through a variety of dishes.
Whenever possible, students will harvest ingredients from our farm to incorporate into their class project.
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The History of Johnny Cakes
You'll learn the historic origins of this southern staple, from its indigenous regional roots through to its ubiquitous presence today. Different adaptations of it, tips for success at home, and making your own Johnnycakes will equip you to carry on this heritage.
The History of Barbecue
Some pitmasters argue that Virginia was the entry point for barbecue over 400 years ago. In this class, you'll learn about the people and the historic techniques that created barbecue as we know it, and sure-fire tips for success at home.