Fourth Annual Southern Foodways Symposium Will Take Place October 25-28

The fourth annual Southern Foodways Symposium--“From the Farm to the Table”-- will take place October 25-28, 2001, on the campus of the University of Mississippi. This year’s gathering will explore connections between the working of the land and the joys of the table. Though the symposium is still in the planning stages, here’s a sneak preview.  

   The symposium will begin on Thursday afternoon with Jennifer Abraham of Louisiana State University conducting an oral history workshop geared toward the collection of food memories. The workshop will be free of charge to the first 20 registrants. That night, we gather for our first meal of the symposium, prepared by John Currence of City Grocery and guest chef Kathy Cary of Lily’s in Louisville, Kentucky. Over the course of the weekend, we will taste delectable catfish and Brunswick stew, not to mention long-simmered shuck beans and cathead biscuits slathered with sorghum.

   Speakers confirmed at press time include culinary historian Karen Hess, author of the seminal work The Carolina Rice Kitchen. Hess will give a lecture on the history of okra. Tom Rankin of Duke University will show photographs and tell tales of Crystal Springs, Mississippi, the onetime Tomatroplis of the South. The weekend closes with a Sunday afternoon garden sermon by author Lee May.

To register online for the 4th Annual Southern Foodways Symposium or for more SFA news Click Here