We all know Martha Washington from her portraits as a dowdy grandmother, but did you know that there is new evidence she was a beautiful and passionate wife befitting her handsome George? And that Martha was the secret weapon that kept troop morale high during the hard winter’s encampment at Valley Forge? We prepare Martha’s authentic Turkey Stew with Oysters and speak with well-known Martha Washington expert Patricia Brady.

As early as 1690, German settlers left Europe for religious freedom in the new world of North America. They settled in the Philadelphia area, and immediately started to contribute to the innovations and spirit of our new country. In this episode, Chef Walter Staib prepares ale-braised sausages and shows us how his German ancestors helped to make America great.

General von Steuben was a German officer who volunteered to help Washington battle the British monarchy. Before von Steuben was finished at Valley Forge, he had instituted a discipline to the rag tag army that made them a determined fighting force that would eventually win the war. Chef Staib prepares Braised Rabbit Legs and Potato Cakes in honor of his favorite Continental soldier, General von Steuben.

In preparation for that all-important Christmas night in 1776 when Washington led his troops across the Delaware River for a surprise attack on the British at Trenton, he ordered one of their heartiest and favorite meals to be ready upon their return, Pepperpot Soup with Cornbread. We conclude the first season of A Taste of History as Chef Staib makes this West-Indies influenced dish again, right at that same spot along the Delaware, with revolutionary troops at his side to celebrate that all important victory.

We start a special four-part series cooking in Thomas Jefferson’s actual kitchen at Monticello, his Virginia home. Chef Staib prepares Jefferson’s favorite exotic dish, Stuffed Cabbage with Fried Asparagus. We also tour Jefferson’s estate and gardens, where we learn how important discovering and growing foods was to our third President.

In this next episode at Monticello, we tour “the Dependencies” that housed the beer and wine cellars and the ice house, to learn how 18th Century food was harvested and stored. Chef Staib also borrows Jefferson’ kitchen to prepare Bouilli, a favorite boiled beef dish of Jefferson’s, along with Bouillon Potatoes.

Jefferson carefully cultivated over 330 vegetable varieties, along with a host of fruits, in his legendary garden. It has been said that everything we need to know about human nature can be learned in Jefferson’s garden. Chef Staib prepares White Bean and Bacon Soup, Chicken Fricassee, and Herbed Barley. We also tour the amazing Monticello Visitor’s Center.

During his five years abroad as Minister to France, Jefferson’s culinary tastes were refined, and he sought to bring all of French cooking’s recipes and ingredients to the US. In this episode, we get to know James Hemings, Jefferson’s slave cook who accompanied Jefferson to learn the ways of French cuisine. We also meet Jefferson’s long-time Monticello cooks, Edith Hern Fossett and Fanny Hern. Chef Staib prepares a tour-de-force final meal in Jefferson’s kitchen: Curried Lamb and with Rice Pilaf and Stewed Mushrooms, along with Leni Sorensen, Monticello’s expert on the slave cooks who worked there.

Wild geese were plentiful in 18th Century America and were prized both for their meat and their layer of fat. Chef Staib prepares a typical winter meal of Goose with Turnips, along with Crab Cake with Herb Remoulade. We also visit Harriton House and see how a root cellar was a key part of 18th Century kitchens.

The foundations of the President’s Residence in Philadelphia, where Washington lived, have recently been excavated, showing where the slave quarters were located in the original White House. The Washingtons relied upon and highly regarded their slave chef, Hercules, who was known to all guests as the best chef in the country. In this episode, Chef Staib prepares a Hercules signature dish, Veal Olives, along with a White Bean and Shallot Purée.

18th Century Philadelphia was on the Southern trade route, with ships arriving daily from the West Indies. In this episode, we discover that dishes like Salmon Escoveitch and Salmon Corn Cakes got their flair from West Indies spices, which were abundant in that era. We are also introduced to the Subscription Room – the world news headquarters of its time.

From discovering how to harness electricity to inventing reading glasses and publishing the first daily newspaper in America, Ben Franklin’s genius was a spark that helped to launch a country. We visit the American Philosophical Society, which Franklin founded, to learn more about this most amazing man. Chef Staib prepares Braised Oxtail, and he toasts Franklin with his authentic Spruce Beer.

Philadelphia’s docks were very busy in the 18th century, receiving ships from as far away as Portugal, laden with precious cargo, Madeira wine. George Washington and the rest of the country was in love with this new wine, which was all the rage in America. Chef Staib prepares Chicken Madeira using this wine along with Spätzle and Chestnut Fritters.

In this episode, we visit the farm home of Charles Thomson, the Secretary to the Continental and the Confederation Congresses. Thomson is little remembered in history, but was influential in helping to argue the cause of Independence. Thomas Jefferson, a close friend, loved to ride out to Harriton House after a long day of debating, and relax with good food and wine with Charles and Hannah Thomson. Chef Staib prepares Shrimp in Saffron Cream, Marinated Asparagus and Fennel Puree in the Thomsons’ kitchen at Harriton House.

Samuel Powel has the distinction of being the last mayor of Philadelphia under British Rule, and the first after the War of Independence. Powel hosted elegant parties at his residence for his friends George and Martha Washington, along with Jefferson, Adams and Franklin. In this episode, we tour the Powel House, and Chef Staib prepares a Washington favorite: Forced Cabbage and a Traditional Beef Stew with Egg Noodles.

Dr. Philip Syng Physick is considered the father of American surgery. His string of innovations include using cat gut for sutures and inventing the tool still used today for performing tonsillectomies! But Dr. Physick also came up with the idea of flavoring carbonated water, something we now call soda pop! In this episode, we tour Physick House, and Chef Staib prepares Smoked Brook Trout on Potato Pancakes, Coq au Vin Chicken , and Brussel Sprouts in honor of the Doctor.

In 1793, Yellow Fever that was running rampant in Philadelphia, President Washington made the wise decision to move the government’s operations north to Germantown, a settlement miles away from the plague-ravaged city. He set up his offices in a charming rented home, Deshler Morris House. We’ll tour the house and Chef Staib will prepare Shrimp Toast, along with a Larded Heart of Beef Tenderloin in Washington’s honor.

We all know the story of Benedict Arnold, and how he betrayed his new country to the British. But few know the role his wife, Peggy Shippen Arnold, played in his treasonous act. And few realize how close Arnold was to being caught on the dramatic day of his flight across to British lines. In this episode, we’ll tell the story of Benedict and Peggy Arnold. In spite of them, Chef Staib prepares a favorite dish of the time, Lobster and Corn Fritters and Baked Veal Chops with Braised Artichokes.

No Colonial American has contributed more to our understanding of nature and science than Benjamin Franklin. From electricity to ecology to the Gulf Stream – and let’s not forget bifocals, we have Franklin to thank for its discovery. And that’s in addition to being one of our Founding Fathers. What a resume! In this episode, we salute Benjamin Franklin by preparing a favorite French dish of his, Vol au Vent with Sweetbreads, Beef and Pork Pie, and Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage.

David Rittenhouse taught himself Newton’s Laws by the age of 13. Soon after he became an expert clockmaker, and then a Professor of Astronomy. Rittenhouse created an orrery, an elaborate machine to track the movements of the sun, the moon and the stars that is as beautiful as it is spectacular. We’ll see Rittenhouse’s orrery, and learn about his life as Chef Staib prepares a Crown Roast of Pork with Madeira Sauce along with Sweet Potatoes and Apples in his honor.

In the summer of 1793, a terrible plague swept through Philadelphia. Yellow Fever wiped out ten percent of the population. People of means escaped, leaving their African-American slaves behind to tend to the sick. The slaves cared for their patients so selflessly that the city awarded them two churches in thanks – the first African-American owned properties in America. The plague was also the reason Dolley Madison end up a First Lady. Find out how on this most remarkable episode, as Chef Staib cooks Citrus Marinated Salmon with an Eggplant Doré.

Betsy Ross is one of the most celebrated women in American history. Although there is still controversy around her story, the details appear to support a woman of great courage who was asked by Gen. Washington to defy the British and secretly give our nation its identity. Ironically, there were very few rules for how the US Flag should look until the 20th century! Learn why in this episode as Chef Staib prepares meals Betsy would have made, Oyster Stew and Roasted Duckling Glazed with Honey.

The variety of livestock we see on farms today differs significantly from the ones that were common during the Revolutionary Era. Washington is actually credited with being the “Father of the American Mule.” Modern techniques have plumped animals up and induced them to grow much more quickly. But an effort is underway at Colonial Williamsburg to get back to those original breeds. In this episode, Chef Staib cooks at Harriton House, preparing Beef Barley Soup, Pork Ragoût and Sally Lunn Dumplings.

Colonial Williamsburg is one of the oldest settlements in America, and the British assumed the once thriving city would become America’s capital. Today, it is a rich teaching environment, where visitors can experience an entire village of Colonial life and authentic foods, including a recreated Coffee House. Chef Staib cooks in Peyton Randolph’s (the President of the Continental Congress) actual kitchen, preparing Chicken Vermicelli Soup, Veal Fricassée and Curried Rice Pilaf.

Lafayette is portrayed as the dashing young French General at Washington’s side. We forget the misery and heartache Lafayette’s support of America’s cause brought him in France, where he and his wife ended up penniless, dishonored and imprisoned. In contrast, his American victory tour of 1824 was a sold-out event wherever he went. In this episode, Chef Staib pays tribute to Gen. Lafayette by making a very French meal of Tripe Soup, Roasted Sweetbreads and Creamed Savoy Cabbage.