Stinging Nettles
Stinging Nettles are a wild weed that most people steer clear from, but they’re is also one of the best tasting and nutritious plants one can find growing in the forests and meadows of Pennsylvania. Collecting nettles in the spring is very easy because they grow so profusely — just remember to wear gloves because […]
Spicebush Tea: A tonic for good health
Transcript Hi, I’m Adam Diltz from Elwood restaurant, a B.Y.O.B. in Fishtown that focuses on the history, culture, and farmland of Pennsylvania. So last week I got a box in the mail from my mom and it was a box of sticks, but they weren’t just any old sticks — it was Spicebush. This is […]
Dining Out: A Global History of Restaurants
While the restaurant is shut down and we practice social distancing, I’m getting a chance to catch up on some of the reading that I’ve been neglecting since Elwood opened. One of the books I just finished is a fascinating look at the history of restaurants called Dining Out: A Global History of Restaurants, by […]
Forgotten History: Pig Punch
Of the many butchering day traditions that are still with us today —including scrapple, pork and sauerkraut — stuffed pig’s stomach is perhaps the least known. Hog’s stomach stuffed and braised is a tradition that pre-dates Christianity and is present in many cultures. While there are many variations of this dish, the Pennsylvania Dutch commonly stuff […]
Forgotten History: Beaver Stew
As we continue to explore the history of forgotten foods, these cold winter days remind me of a mammal that brought many Europeans to explore North America. Estimated to have had a population of around 90 million when Europeans arrived in the New World, the beaver was sought after not only for its fashionable fur, […]
Forgotten History: Kensington Snapper Soup
Turtle was once a highly sought out delicacy for it’s rich, delicious flavor and nutritious meat. In Philadelphia, turtles were kept in cages, fed cabbage leaves and sold at the High Street Market. Of course, the demand was so great that the number of Green Sea Turtles became dangerously low. The alternative that people turned […]
Forgotten History: Celery
Celery is often a maligned vegetable. Many call it useless, pushing it to mirepoix duty or weak crudités plates. But I’ve always felt that celery should be celebrated for its natural salinity and crisp, refreshing taste. In the Victorian era, celery was seen as much more than an unwanted vegetable. It was a status symbol […]