Discover the rich history of the plantation and historic house on this guided tour. Property pass included in ticket price.
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Description
Join us for a lecture exploring the central role of Virginia’s enslaved cooks in shaping American cuisine. Dr. Deetz examines the chefs and kitchens of colonial Virginia, highlighting the knowledge, skills, and traditions that profoundly influenced what we now recognize as American foodways, and the enduring legacy of those contributions. Reception to follow.
Bio:
Dr. Kelley Fanto Deetz is the Chief Advancement Officer at James Madison's Montpelier. She holds a BA from The College of William & Mary and an MA and Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley. Deetz is the author of the critically acclaimed book Bound to the Fire: How Virginia’s Enslaved Cooks Helped Invent American Cuisine which inspired a poem by Alice Walker. Some of her work includes working with National Geographic, as a consulting producer and author, and as a historical consultant for several historic sites, including Marblehead Museum, Mount Vernon, and Cliveden of the National Trust. She was appointed to Governor Northam’s administration in 2021, where she served as the Director of Historical Interpretation and Education at Virginia’s Executive Mansion. You can find her most recent work in the cookbook California Soul, with celebrity and OWN tv star Chef Tanya Holland and author Alice Walker. Deetz is passionate about making academic content accessible to the public. Her work can be found in the Smithsonian Magazine, The Washington Post, Vanity Fair, several podcasts, The Conversation, USA Today, and in lectures on YouTube.
Date & Time
Sun, Apr 19, 2026 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Venue Details
James Madisons Montpelier
13425 Visitor Center RoadOrange, Virginia 22960
