Food played a huge part in the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition. Visitors to the fair learned about new fruit hybrids, cookware innovations, leading Napa wines, and many other wonders in the Palace of Food Products; they tasted the winners of PPIE culinary competitions such as Larraburu sourdough bread; they snacked on enchiladas, chop suey, and clam chowder at the fair; and they explored San Francisco’s restaurants during their stay in the city.

The Culinary Historians of Northern California is partnering with the California Historical Society to host a panel discussing the edible elements of the Exposition experience. Attendees at this event will be offered light refreshments including a sampling of relevant historic dishes.

Speakers:

* Pam Elder, a founding member of the Culinary Historians of Northern California and a long-time collector of books on food, wine, and spirits, will present her research on PPIE culinary ephemera.
* Jeannette Ferrary, author of M.F.K. Fisher and Me: A Memoir of Food and Friendship, Out of the Kitchen: Adventures of a Food Writer, and The California-American Cookbook: Innovations on American Regional Dishes
* Julia Lavaroni, grand niece of Harold Paul, the long-time owner of Larraburu Brothers Bakery; Julia is currently producing a film on San Francisco’s iconic Larraburu bread, which won first place at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
* Erica J. Peters, Director, Culinary Historians of Northern California, and author of San Francisco: A Food Biography.

Image courtesy of the The San Francisco Historical Photograph Collection of the San Francisco Public Library