Sarah Wassberg Johnson, M.A.
Studying the intersecting histories of food, agriculture,
women, ethnicity, and rural communities in America.
women, ethnicity, and rural communities in America.
Upcoming Programs & Events
The Food Historian is currently accepting requests for speaking engagements for 2020 and 2021, including for virtual talks. Make a request.
Wednesday, November 4, 2020 | 7:00 PM | Nyack Public Library, Nyack, NY - VIRTUAL TALK - "Cooking by the Book: Celebrity Chefs, Cookbookery, and the Changing Landscape of American Cuisine" Register here >>>
Monday, November 9, 2020 | 6:00 PM | The Field Library, Peekskill, NY and the Mahopac Public Library, Mahopac, NY - VIRTUAL TALK - "Apples in America: A History" Register here >>>
Thursday, November 12, 2020 | 7:00 PM | Poughkeepsie Library, Poughkeepsie, NY - VIRTUAL TALK - "Apples in America: A History" Register here >>>
Tuesday, November 17, 2020 | 6:30 PM | Poughkeepsie Library, Poughkeepsie, NY - VIRTUAL COOKING DEMONSTRATION & TALK - "As American as Pumpkin Pie: From Colonial New England to PSL" - featuring a scratch cooking demo on pumpkin pie with real roasted pumpkin. Register here >>>
Friday, November 20, 2020 | 8:00 PM EST | Livestream on Facebook: "Food History Happy Hour" We'll be discussing Thanksgiving food history!
Wednesday, December 3, 2020 | 7:00 PM | New Paltz Historical Society, New Paltz, NY - VIRTUAL TALK - "Cooking by the Book: Celebrity Chefs, Cookbookery, and the Changing Landscape of American Cuisine"
Tuesday, December 8, 2020 | 6:30 PM | Poughkeepsie Library, Poughkeepsie, NY - VIRTUAL COOKING DEMONSTRATION & TALK - "Indian Meal & Molasses: the Making of New England Cuisine" featuring a scratch cooking demonstration on Indian Pudding. Register here >>>
Friday, December 11, 2020 | 7:00 PM | Shelter Island Public Library, Shelter Island, NY - VIRTUAL TALK - "Cooking by the Book: Celebrity Chefs, Cookbookery, and the Changing Landscape of American Cuisine"
Tuesday, January 19, 2021 | 7:00 PM | Palisades Free Library, Palisades, NY - VIRTUAL TALK - "When Sugar Was Good For You: The Development of Nutrition Science"
Wednesday, January 27, 2021 | 6:30 PM | Poughkeepsie Library, Poughkeepsie, NY - VIRTUAL COOKING DEMONSTRATION & TALK - “From Thomas Jefferson to Kraft: A History of Macaroni and Cheese” featuring a scratch cooking demonstration of macaroni and cheese.
Thursday, February 11, 2021 | 6:30 PM | Poughkeepsie Library, Poughkeepsie, NY - VIRTUAL COOKING DEMONSTRATION & TALK - “Hot Chocolate: From Indigenous American Rituals to Victorian Children’s Breakfast” featuring scratch cooking demonstration of hot chocolate and hot cocoa.
Wednesday, November 4, 2020 | 7:00 PM | Nyack Public Library, Nyack, NY - VIRTUAL TALK - "Cooking by the Book: Celebrity Chefs, Cookbookery, and the Changing Landscape of American Cuisine" Register here >>>
Monday, November 9, 2020 | 6:00 PM | The Field Library, Peekskill, NY and the Mahopac Public Library, Mahopac, NY - VIRTUAL TALK - "Apples in America: A History" Register here >>>
Thursday, November 12, 2020 | 7:00 PM | Poughkeepsie Library, Poughkeepsie, NY - VIRTUAL TALK - "Apples in America: A History" Register here >>>
Tuesday, November 17, 2020 | 6:30 PM | Poughkeepsie Library, Poughkeepsie, NY - VIRTUAL COOKING DEMONSTRATION & TALK - "As American as Pumpkin Pie: From Colonial New England to PSL" - featuring a scratch cooking demo on pumpkin pie with real roasted pumpkin. Register here >>>
Friday, November 20, 2020 | 8:00 PM EST | Livestream on Facebook: "Food History Happy Hour" We'll be discussing Thanksgiving food history!
Wednesday, December 3, 2020 | 7:00 PM | New Paltz Historical Society, New Paltz, NY - VIRTUAL TALK - "Cooking by the Book: Celebrity Chefs, Cookbookery, and the Changing Landscape of American Cuisine"
Tuesday, December 8, 2020 | 6:30 PM | Poughkeepsie Library, Poughkeepsie, NY - VIRTUAL COOKING DEMONSTRATION & TALK - "Indian Meal & Molasses: the Making of New England Cuisine" featuring a scratch cooking demonstration on Indian Pudding. Register here >>>
Friday, December 11, 2020 | 7:00 PM | Shelter Island Public Library, Shelter Island, NY - VIRTUAL TALK - "Cooking by the Book: Celebrity Chefs, Cookbookery, and the Changing Landscape of American Cuisine"
Tuesday, January 19, 2021 | 7:00 PM | Palisades Free Library, Palisades, NY - VIRTUAL TALK - "When Sugar Was Good For You: The Development of Nutrition Science"
Wednesday, January 27, 2021 | 6:30 PM | Poughkeepsie Library, Poughkeepsie, NY - VIRTUAL COOKING DEMONSTRATION & TALK - “From Thomas Jefferson to Kraft: A History of Macaroni and Cheese” featuring a scratch cooking demonstration of macaroni and cheese.
Thursday, February 11, 2021 | 6:30 PM | Poughkeepsie Library, Poughkeepsie, NY - VIRTUAL COOKING DEMONSTRATION & TALK - “Hot Chocolate: From Indigenous American Rituals to Victorian Children’s Breakfast” featuring scratch cooking demonstration of hot chocolate and hot cocoa.
Follow on Social Media
Latest Episode of History Bites
Book Reviews
Canned: The Rise and Fall of Consumer Confidence in the American Food Industry by Anna Zeide
Capitalist Pigs: Pigs, Pork, and Power in America by J.L. Anderson
Sowing the Seeds of Victory: American Gardening Programs of World War I by Rose Hayden-Smith
Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking: A Memoir of Food & Longing by Anya von Bremzen
Capitalist Pigs: Pigs, Pork, and Power in America by J.L. Anderson
Sowing the Seeds of Victory: American Gardening Programs of World War I by Rose Hayden-Smith
Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking: A Memoir of Food & Longing by Anya von Bremzen
Thesis
Sarah Wassberg's Master's thesis: "Preserve or Perish: The Orange County Food Preservation Battalion and Food Conservation Efforts in New York State During the Great War, 1917-1919" is now available on Proquest.com for purchase or you may interlibrary loan a hard copy from the University at Albany library.