Hamilton-inspired food

[jesse_the_k]

It's a stretch, given that the folks who did the cooking were in NO position to write stuff down, but here's an NPR story about food with Hamiltonian themes:

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/07/24/538393424/feeling-young-scrappy-and-hungry-have-a-hamilton-inspired-meal

Favorite factoid: there,s an ice cream recipe on Jefferson's own hand and the Hamiltons loved ice cream.

There's no explanation of how these folks had access to ice, though.

Comments

[rydra_wong]

There's no explanation of how these folks had access to ice, though.

*Hermione hand-waving*

I know this one I know this one!

Wikipedia: ice house

And Google found me this page:

https://www.monticello.org/site/house-and-gardens/ice-house

ETA: because yes, isn't it counter-intuitive and fascinating that they had access to ice? *bounces*

Wowza!

[jesse_the_k]

I knew all about Chicago ice spreading eastward through the new-fangled railroad system post Civil War, but THIS is so cool!

Thank you, Hermione!

Re: Wowza!

[rydra_wong]

It's the summer ice subscription service in Philadelphia in 1792 that blew my mind in the second link.

Also, there's a mid-19th C ice house near where I am currently part-time living, and I have been into it and it is the creepiest fucking place.

Yes let's go into the narrow abandoned brick-lined tunnel into the earth and contemplate the tiny room sealed off with metal grates, which rationally I am sure are there because it was a shooting lodge and they didn't want foxes getting the dead grouse they had hanging up there but aaaaaah nightmare fuel great idea there.

Re: Wowza!

[jesse_the_k]

Yes, why wouldn't colonial Philadelphia have such luxuries?

I know I readily fall into the myth of progress, that now is always better than then. Perhaps another reason I enjoy Hamilton: bringing the then into the now reminds me that we're all humans on this bus.

Re: Wowza!

[rydra_wong]

Yes, why wouldn't colonial Philadelphia have such luxuries?

It's the "subscription service" aspect that startled and delighted me. Because of course, it makes total sense to have regular deliveries in summer! And it's a very logical way of arranging it.

My brain just keeps going "Like Netflix for ice!" *g*