Gather & Grow | Taste the State

Name: Gather & Grow | Taste the State
Start: 2025-11-11T17:30:00-05:00
End: 2025-11-11T19:00:00-05:00
Location: Botanic Garden at Georgia Southern University

Schedule

Tue Nov 11 2025 at 05:30 pm to 07:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

Botanic Garden at Georgia Southern University | Statesboro, GA

Taste the State Georgia: Distinctive Foods and Stories from Where Eating Local Began
David Shields - Culinary Historian & Carolina Distinguished Professor
David Shields is back at the Garden with his latest book, "Taste the State Georgia: Distinctive Foods and Stories from Where Eating Local Began."
As a distinguished professor and culinary historian, Shields specializes in uncovering the real stories behind Southern cuisine. He traces ingredients and recipes back to their origins, revealing the people who created the dishes we know today.
This Georgia cookbook is his second collaboration with Chef Kevin Mitchell, following their successful "Taste the State: South Carolina." Together, they've mastered the art of connecting food to the people who shaped regional cuisines, especially honoring the contributions of enslaved chefs and cooks.
Shields takes you on a culinary tour from apples to peaches to Vidalia onions, revealing the stories behind Georgia's signature foods. You'll discover how Brunswick stew and Savannah Red Rice became staples. He doesn't stop at traditional dishes. You'll also learn about modern favorites like pimento cheeseburgers and Vidalia onion cornbread.
Shields has this knack for connecting food to the people who made it matter. He shows you how heirloom varieties and creative cooks shaped what we think of as Georgia cuisine. No fluff, just the real stories about why we eat what we eat.
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Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Time: 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: Botanic Garden Heritage Pavilion
1503 Bland Avenue
Statesboro
Cost: $30 ($25 Members)
The Chef cannot accommodate for any food allergies