The Founding Foodies: How Washington, Jefferson, and Franklin Revolutionized American Cuisine

(Paperback)

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Ever wonder how certain foods came to be such huge staples of American culinary history In this fascinating mashup between history book and cook book, one of America's Founding Fathers could be at the source!

Food writer Dave DeWitt entertainingly describes how some of America's most famous colonial leaderslike George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklinnot only established America's political destiny, but also revolutionized the very foods we eat.

Beyond their legacy as revolutionaries and politicians, the Founding Fathers of America were first and foremost a group of farmers. Like many of today's foodies, they ardently supported sustainable farming and ranching, exotic imported foods, brewing, distilling, and wine appreciation. Explore their passion for the land and the bounty it produced through an intriguing narrative, sprinkled with recipes that showcase their love of food and the art of eating that would ultimately become America's diverse food culture.

Features over thirty authentic colonial recipes, including:

• Thomas Jefferson's ice cream
• A recipe for beer by George Washington
• Martha Washington's fruitcake
• Medford rum punch
• Terrapin soup

Reviews

"This book will be of interest to educators, culinary historians, American history enthusiasts, and foodies everywhere." - Gastronomica
"A lively and erudite look into the culinary proclivities of the dudes on our money... The author's snappy recollections help foster the realization that food carried immense importance to the nation shapers, whether our forebears were simply sitting down to enjoy a meal or laying the groundwork for how we eat today." --Philadelphia City Paper" - Philadelphia City Paper
"Part cookbook, part formative examination, The Founding Foodies importantly shows the origins of the American food lover. Far from a contemporary creature, the foodie helped to make America: the products of his tastes, his wars, and his imports all appear in force in today's American diet. DeWitt delivers a book that teaches new foodies about their roots, and shows American history buffs a new portion of our nation's first hundreds of years." - ForeWord Reviews" - ForeWord

Author Bio

Dave DeWitt is a leading food expert. He has authored several books and has appeared everywhere from the Today show to Mythbusters. He has also been featured in the New Yorker, the New York Times, USA Today, and approximately 200 newspapers across the country.