One guest at Monticello described the food as “served in half Virginian, half French style, in good taste and abundance." While Thomas Jefferson is often lauded for his influence on American cuisine, the cooking and skill came from the enslaved chefs at Monticello who were masters in their craft. Watch a special cooking livestream with culinary historian, Leni Sorensen. Dr. Sorensen will demonstrate period cooking in the Monticello kitchen and discuss the enslaved people who grew and prepared the food for Jefferson and his family.
This livestream was made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.