“A Taste of OHIO” gives people chance to explore the Athens food scene.
A themed tour will give those coming to Athens for Homecoming a “Taste of OHIO.”
The Food Studies Theme is hosting “A Taste of OHIO,” a three-hour tour of a few of the hotspots in Athens, including the West State Street Research Gardens and Jackie O’s Taproom.
“We wanted to take the opportunity when there’re different people on campus to show them how you can study food at Ohio University,” said Theresa Moran, assistant professor in the Theme. “What can you do with the study of food at OU?”
The tour will begin with an opening speech by David Holben, acting associate dean of the College of Health Sciences and Professions, in Grover Hall, room W209. Holben will speak about Thomas Jefferson and other early American gardeners.
Next, the group will be transported to the West State Street Research Gardens, where they will hear from a variety of speakers: Mary Nally, executive director of Community Food Initiatives, the OU Food Matters club and Paul Patton, professor in anthropology.
The OU Food Matters club will speak about their project of growing food at the Gardens to sell at the OHIO Farmers Market.
Patton will then be talking about his research on chenopodium, which is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants that he grows at the Gardens. One of the most popular plants in the genus is quinoa.
“It’s what the ancient, early dwellers in our region cultivated before maize,” Moran said. “It’s really quite intriguing research, it demonstrates how native plants were used in cultivation.”
Nally will make a presentation about the Community Food Initiatives.
The tour will conclude at Jackie O’s Taproom, where attendees will get to try a sample of local, artisan cheeses from Integration Acres led by Eric LeMay, an assistant professor of English and author of “Immortal Milk: Adventures in Cheese.”
“The book is a food adventure book that follows cheese back in history … I like to think it’s cheesy in the best kind of way,” LeMay said. “We’ve got a smorgasbord set up (at the tasting). My part is leading people in a tasting with local cheese from Integration Acres. I’m going to some of the stuff with them that I do when I teach about food writing.”
There will also be a tour of the taproom led by Mick Held, an assistant professor of chemistry, and Jackie O’s brewmaster. Beer will be available for purchase.
Limited space is available for the tour, and reservations can be made by emailing foodstudies@ohio.edu.
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