Cooking in Community: Foodways Traditions from Appalachia and Beyond

With support from Mid Atlantic Arts, Augusta is presenting a series of foodways classes in Elkins, WV. The classes will be taught by experienced chefs and home cooks from a variety of cultures represented in Appalachia today. Classes will cover specific dishes such as arepas, meatballs, hand pies, pizzelles, pancit noodles, pepperoni rolls, dumplings, and collard greens, as well as addressing topics such as cooking fresh, using local seasonal ingredients and home-canning techniques. Students can expect to come away from each class with hands-on knowledge about how to make a dish and hopefully a deeper understanding of the importance of that dish to the people whose kitchens it sprang from.  

This project is made possible by Mid Atlantic Arts’ Central Appalachia Living Traditions program.

What are foodways?

Foodways are more than food itself — they are the beliefs and context surrounding food, the person-to-person teaching of its preparation, as well as the community in which the food is enjoyed. The passing down of food traditions from one generation to the next is an integral piece of a community’s identity and culture. We use food to deepen community ties, celebrate important holidays, mark milestones, and enrich our lives. A community’s values are readily communicated in the ways that food is celebrated and shared within it.

Registration Price – sliding scale $10-$50 suggested $25

Come to one or several! Limited seats are available for each class, so please register early. If your desired classes are sold out, please email millere2@dewv.edu to be added to a waiting list.

2023 Schedule: 

Jan 30 2023, 6-8 pm | Pepperoni Rolls: West Virginia’s Gift to the World | Katt Schuler  — SOLD OUT

Feb 27, 2023, 6-8pm | Dumplings: Folding, filling, and family traditions | Yuru Cheng

March 20, 2023, 6-8pm | Luigi’s Meatballs | Lou Maiuri

April 17, 2023, 6-8pm | Savory and Sweet Hand Pies | Mike Costello and Amy Dawson

May 22, 2023, 6-8pm | Arepas: Venezuela’s Cornbread | Derdlim Masten

August 21, 2023, 6-8pm | Canning Techniques | Margo Davis

September 18, 2023, 6-8pm | Pancit Noodles: the ultimate comfort food | Ging Murdock

October 23, 2023, 6-8pm | Cooking fresh with what you’ve got | Chuck Johnson

November 13, 2023, 6-8pm | West Virginia Soul Food | The Southern Kitchen

December 11, 2023, 6-8pm | Pizzelles: Italian American Christmas Delights! | Sestilia Young

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