Robey Memorial Library to host an Adventure in Iowa’s Culinary History
Everyone has an Iowa food story, and Lake City author Darcy Dougherty Maulsby will bring these stories to life Friday, June 14 at the Robey Memorial Library in Waukon for a free Adventures in Iowa’s Culinary History program and book signing starting at 2 p.m.
“From Iowa originals like Maid-Rites to kolaches to homemade cinnamon rolls - served with chili, of course - there are many remarkable stories behind Iowa’s tastiest traditions,” said Maulsby, Iowa’s Storyteller, who has been featured in the Iowa History Journal, Our Iowa magazine, Iowa Public Radio and more. “Pull up a chair, and relish what you missed in history class.”
During her fun, interactive program, Maulsby serves up fascinating tidbits and cooking tips related to more than 150 years of Iowa cuisine and ethnic food traditions, from all corners of the state, with stories that include Iowa’s classic breaded pork tenderloins, church dinners, the historic Younkers Tea Room, Laura Ingalls Wilder and more. Discover how Iowa’s delectable cuisine is quintessentially Midwestern, grounded in its rich farming heritage and spiced with diverse ethnic influences.
Those attending can find out where in Iowa one can dine at a James Beard award-winning steakhouse; where to find Iowa’s own distinctive style of potato chips, which might be the world’s best chips; or how to step back in time and enjoy a slice of homemade pie at an Iowa icon that first opened in 1852.
“Even those who are well acquainted with Iowa food lore are sure to find something new and interesting,” said Julie Goodrich, who wrote a review of “A Culinary History of Iowa” in the Iowa History Journal. “Go on an adventure with this fun, fascinating and tasty tale of culinary traditions that weave through Iowa’s past and present.”
“I’m passionate about helping people make the farm-to-fork connection and reconnecting with Iowa history,” Maulsby said. “If you have an appetite for adventure, you can’t do better than Iowa when it comes to history, culture, and one-of-kind culinary experiences. ‘A Culinary History of Iowa’ offers a fun way to explore the world without leaving Iowa.”
Signed copies of “A Culinary History of Iowa” will be available during the event, along with Maulsby’s other non-fiction, illustrated Iowa history books (“Calhoun County” and “Dallas County”) and her postcard collections featuring rural Iowa images and postcards featuring favorite vintage photos from the Culinary History of Iowa book.
For more details, contact Robey Memorial Library, 401 First Avenue NW in Waukon, at 563-568-4424, or Maulsby at yettergirl@yahoo.com. More about Maulsby can be found online at www.darcymaulsby.com.
