Season 1
13 episodes
24 min. per episode
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A celebrated chef resurrects lost recipes, unearthing culinary secrets while confronting personal demons and a divided nation.
Episodes
Chef Walter Staib bakes some of America's favorites, inspired by the Baker General, Christopher Ludwig. A native German, he brought the art of gingerbread making to Philadelphia. Chef Staib roasts a turkey to demonstrate how to make a classic turkey pot pie from scratch, then finishes the meal with gingerbread and poached pears.
18th Century Philadelphia was on the Southern trade route, with ships arriving daily from the West Indies. In this episode, we discover that dishes like Salmon Escoveitch and Salmon Corn Cakes got their flair from West Indies spices, which were abundant in that era. We are also introduced to the Subscription Room - the world news headquarters of its time.
As early as 1690, German settlers left Europe for religious freedom in the new world of North America. They settled in the Philadelphia area, and immediately started to contribute to the innovations and spirit of our new country. In this episode, Chef Walter Staib prepares ale-braised sausages and shows us how his German ancestors helped to make America great.
Before the Christmas night in 1776 when Washington led his troops to a surprise attack on the British at Trenton, he ordered one of their favorite meals to be ready upon their return, Pepperpot Soup with Cornbread. Chef Staib makes this West-Indies influenced dish again, right at that same spot along the Delaware, with revolutionary troops at his side to celebrate that all important victory.
Wild geese were plentiful in 18th Century America and were prized both for their meat and their layer of fat. Chef Staib prepares a typical winter meal of Goose with Turnips, along with Crab Cake with Herb Remoulade. We also visit Harriton House and see how a root cellar was a key part of 18th Century kitchens.
A Taste of History is a cooking series that explores America's culinary beginnings from the Birthplace of American Cuisine. This innovative series brings America's history to life and makes it vibrant as we step back in time and get to know the founders of our country through the food they ate and the recipes they prepared. Chef Walter Staib, an Emmy Award-winning, internationally known chef with over four decades of experience, is a master of open hearth cookery. He demonstrates a true mastery in the preparation of sophisticated 18th century cuisine, sure to inspire home-cooks.