WCUS Logo via National Archives website
Food. We love it, fear it, and obsess about it. We demand that our Government ensure that it is safe, cheap, and abundant. In response, Government has been a factor in the production, regulation, research, innovation, and economics of our food supply. It has also attempted, with varying success, to change the eating habits of Americans. From the farm to the dinner table, explore the records of the National Archives that trace the Government’s effect on what Americans eat.
The Archives have planned quite the launch event to commence the opening of the exhibit. Check out the details courtesy of Eater DC:
José Andrés will be on hand to talk food Friday evening in a National Archives event celebrating its new exhibit, “What’s Cooking, Uncle Sam?” Andrés will pair up with Atlantic senior editor Corby Kummer to “discuss the history of American food and cooking, science and cooking, and why food is the solution to many of the challenges we face as a nation,” per a press release. The exhibit, which opens Friday as well, traces the history of the government’s role in what Americans eat. And the Spanish chef’s involvement in the project has been significant — not only is he serving as chief culinary adviser to the exhibit, but he also announced last month that he’s opening a companion pop-up restaurant, America Eats Tavern, which will feature classic American dishes spruced up Andrés-style. The June 10 chat will be held at 7 p.m. at the National Archives’ William G. McGowan Theater — and it is both free and first-come, first-served. To get a little preview of what Andrés might say, check out the video below in which he talks up the exhibit, declaring “it’s going to be opening a door for you to understand that the policies that our government implements have a fundamental effect on the way we all live.”
What’s Cooking, Uncle Sam? [Official Site]
National Archives [Official Site]
Check out the exhibit preview here.
Vitamin M tip: Can’t attend Friday’s event? No fear, the exhibit is open through January 3, 2012 (minus the celebrities).
