Lectures, Signings, and Classes
NEW: Online presentations are listed in green, those that have a fee have a dollar sign afterward. For some of these, you may need to go to the website of the sponsoring organization in order to get login information. I will post links to those websites, but as I am not responsible for updating them, I can’t guarantee how far in advance this information will be available.
To book an event, please send an email to richard@richardfoss.com.
2025 Schedule
13 April – “The First California Cuisine: Food in Spanish and Mexican California” for the Stagecoach Inn Museum, Thousand Oaks CA
17 May – Program (TBD) for Culinary Historians of San Diego
2024 Schedule
15 March – “Conserving and Restoring Cultural Traditions” for the Rotary Club Torrance Del Amo.
20 April – “The First California Cuisine: Food in Spanish and Mexican California” for the Dominguez Rancho Adobe
27 April – “From Tubes and Cubes to Space Espresso – Dining in Zero Gravity” at the West Los Angeles Public Library
11 May – “Inventing the Flying Meal” for the Culinary Historians of San Diego, Neil Morgan Auditorium, San Diego Central Library
18 May – MC at the Dance Stage, Topanga Banjo & Fiddle Contest
14 July – Guest speaker at Jewish Food History event, Boyle Heights, Los Angeles
14 September – “The First California Cuisine” for the Bolton Hall Museum, Tujunga, CA
22 September – “The First California Cuisine” for the Bay Area Culinary Historians, San Francisco
2023 Schedule
23 January – “Seven Gifts from LA Kitchens to the World” for Let’s Dish class, CSU Long Beach
15 Feb – Online program: “Food in Space, in Science Fiction and Reality” for the Torrance Public Library, 6:30 PM
16 February – “Conserving and Restoring Cultural Traditions” for the Kiwanis Club Redondo Beach
23 February – “Seven Gifts from LA Kitchens to the World” for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Cal State Long Beach
21 May – Dance Stage MC at Topanga Banjo & Fiddle Festival
17 June – Three Thousand Years of Spanish Food in One Hour” for the Culinary Historians of San Diego, San Diego Central Library, 10:30 AM
12 September – “Recovering, preserving, and sharing our cultures” for the Neptunian Women’s Society, Manhattan Beach
10 November – “Rum: The Secret History” For the Las Vecinas Club, Rancho Palos Verdes
16 December – “Raising a Glass with Charles Dickens” at Collage: A Place for Art & Culture, San Pedro CA
2022 Schedule
19 Feb – “The Lost Cuisines of California” for the Culinary Historians of San Diego, San Diego Central Library, 10:30 AM
08 April – Online program: “Food on the Westward Trail” for the Kansas Historical Society, Topeka, KS.
15 Sep – Online program: “How Prohibition Changed America” for Harper College, Palatine, IL
03 December – “Queen Victoria, Charles Dickens, and 19th Century California Christmas” for the Bay Area Culinary Historians, San Francisco.
13 Dec – Online program: “Drinking with Jane Austen” For the Regency Fiction Writers – private program.
17 December – “Queen Victoria, Charles Dickens, and 19th Century California Christmas” at Collage: A Place for Art & Culture, in San Pedro CA
2021 Schedule
29 January – Online program for Omnilore – “The Strangest Cooking Methods In The World” (private event)
10 February – Online program: “How Prohibition Changed America” for the Renaissance Society of Sacramento, 7 PM
03 March – Online program: “The Elizabethan Mind: What Shakespeare’s Audiences Knew” for the Renaissance Society of Sacramento, 7 PM
11 March – Moderate online program: “LA Made presents Spirits of Los Angeles – meet the wizards behind the renaissance of distilling in Los Angeles,” 2 PM (Postponed)
07 April – Online program: “When Luxury Floated Through The Skies – travel and dining aboard zeppelins” for the Renaissance Society of Sacramento. 7 PM. Free – reservations HERE
08 April – Moderate online program: “The Fall and Rise of Native American Foods” for the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and the NEA Big Read Project, 7 PM. Free – Reservations HERE
10 April – The Strangest Cooking Methods in the World” for the Culinary Historians of Southern California, 10:30 AM – Free, reservations HERE
12 April – Online program: “Imbibing LA, 1830-1885” for the Banning Museum, Wilmington, CA. (Private event)
16 April – Online program: “The First California Cuisine,” for the Torrance Library, Torrance CA . 10:30 AM. Free, to get Zoom code send an email to SBuehler@TorranceCA.gov
20 April – Online program: “Food on the Western Trail” for the Sacramento River Delta Historical Society and the Renaissance Society of Sacramento, 7 PM. Free, reservations at this LINK
21 April – Online program for Delta Kappa Gamma Society of Women Educators (Private event)
04 May – Online program: “Food in Space, as Imagined and in Reality” for the Renaissance Society of Sacramento, 6 PM
27 May – Online program: “Challenges in Culinary History” for the Palos Verdes Library District, 7 PM. Reservations at this LINK
13 July – Online program: “The Strangest Cooking Methods in the World” for the Los Angeles Public Library, West Los Angeles Branch, 7 PM
22 September – “Food, Drink, and Manners At Shakespeare’s Table” for the City of Calabasas Recreation Department, 10:30 AM
13 October – “Food in space, in Science Fiction & Reality” for the Torrance Public Library, 6 PM
20 October – “Drinking With Jane Austen” for the City of Calabasas Recreation Department, 10:30 AM
26 October – Food on the Move in the American West for the Covina Valley Historical Society, 5:30 PM.
18 November – Online program – “Seven Gifts From LA Kitchens To The World” for Harper College, Palatine, IL (Private program)
20 November – “Myths, Mysteries, and Misconceptions About Rum” for the Culinary Historians of San Diego, 10:30 AM
08 December – “Queen Victoria, Charles Dickens, and Christmas in 19th Century California” for the Torrance Public Library, 6 PM
2020 Schedule
12 January – “How Prohibition Changed America” for the San Pedro Historical Society at the Improved Order of Red Men Hall in San Pedro, 11 AM
22-23 February – “Dinner At Dickens’ Home” for Academic Track at Riverside Dickens Festival.Royal Victorian Theater, 1:15 PM both days.
11 March – When Luxury Floated Through The Skies: Travel and Dining Aboard Zeppelins,” at the Quartz Hill Public Library, 2:30 PM
16 March – “Food, Drink, and Manners at Shakespeare’s Table” at the Huntington Park Public Library, Huntington Park CA, 6:30 PM (POSTPONED)
26 March – Moderate “Language of the Senses: Evoking Sensations in Words” at the Mark Taper Auditorium, Downtown Central Library, Los Angeles. (POSTPONED)
31 March – Technology of Food in Flight for aerospace professionals group (Private event) (POSTPONED)
23 April – “Food on the Move in the American West” for the Covina Valley Historical Society, Covina Women’s Club, 5:30 PM. Program includes dinner, $12 (POSTPONED)
25 April – “Food, Drink, and Manners at Shakespeare’s Table” at the Claremont Public Library, Claremont CA, 2 PM (POSTPONED)
22 July – Online program: “The Strangest Cooking Methods in the World” sponsored by the Culinary Historians of Northern California.
Summer programs at Collage: Arts and Culture Center have been postponed.
01 August – Online program: “Gin: A Sensory Exploration of the Artisanal Spirit” with Jason Horn. More information at this Eventbrite link. ($)
04 August – Online program: “Food on Wheels in the American West” for the San Francisco Professional Food Society (private event)
12 October – Online program: “The First California Cuisine” for the Renaissance Society of Sacramento, 6 PM (register here)
27 October – Online program: “Seven Gifts From LA Kitchens to the World” sponsored by the Calabasas Senior Center, 10:30 AM. Information and registration information available here.
29 October – Online program: “Imbibing LA: Boozing it Up in the City of Angels” sponsored by the Palos Verdes Library, Rolling Hills Estates, 7 PM. Free, but you need to reserve on the library’s website.
03 November – Online program: “Imbibing LA: Boozing it Up in the City of Angels” sponsored by the Calabasas Senior Center, 10:30 AM. Information and registration information available here.
19 November – Online program: “Gin: A Sensory Exploration of the Artisanal Spirit” with Jason Horn, 6 PM ($)
21 November – Online program: “The Strangest Cooking Methods in the World” for the Culinary Historians of San Diego, San Diego CA 10:30 AM. (Register here)
02 December – Online program: “Dickens, Queen Victoria, and Christmas in 19th Century California” for the Renaissance Society of Sacramento, 7 PM (register here)
2019 Schedule
28 January – “Cooking and Dining in Late Victorian California” at the Banning Museum, Wilmington CA (Private event)
23-24 February – “The Victorian Food Chain” at the Royal Victoria Theatre, Riverside Dickens Festival, Riverside CA, 2:15 PM
04 April – “Seven Gifts from LA Kitchens to the World” at the El Segundo Museum of Art, El Segundo CA, 6 PM
17 April – “The Elizabethan Mind: What Shakespeare’s Audiences Knew” at the Westwood Branch Library, Los Angeles CA, 6:30 PM
03 May – “How Prohibition Changed America” at the Catalina Island Museum, Avalon, Catalina, CA. 6:30 PM. Program includes dinner and cocktails. Reservations at this link $
18 May – Moderate panel on “Food, Identity, and Culture in LA” at the Center For Democracy, Los Angeles CA, 1 PM
30 May – “The First California Cuisine” at the Pasadena Village Club (Private event)
01 June – “The First California Cuisine” at the Dominguez Rancho Adobe, Compton CA, 1:30 PM
06 June – “Seven Gifts From LA Kitchens To The World” for the Old Treasures Club, Northridge, CA. Noon
29 June – “The History of Drinking in Los Angeles” for the Manhattan Beach Historical Society, 11 AM
14 July – Moderator for “Can Artisanal Food Businesses Survive in Los Angeles?” at Mark Taper Auditorium, Downtown Central Library, Los Angeles, 2:00 PM
06 September – “Seven Gifts From LA Kitchens to the World” at the Bob Lucas Memorial Library, Altadena CA, 11 AM
14 September – “Food on the Westward Trail: More Than Bacon, Beans, and Biscuits?” for the Culinary Historians of Southern California, Taper Auditorium, Downtown Central Library, Los Angeles, 10:30 AM
25 September – “Seven Gifts From LA Kitchens to the World” at the Torrance Public Library, Torrance CA, 7 PM
02 November – Lead Los Angeles culinary history tour for group of social studies teachers (private event)
16 November – “Food on Wheels in the American West” for Culinary Historians of San Diego, San Diego Central Library, 10:30 AM
05 December – How Prohibition Changed America” with dinner and cocktails at the Del Monte Speakeasy, Venice CA (Invitation-only event)
21 December – “The Weirdest Cooking Methods in the World” at the Pacific Palisades Library, Pacific Palisades CA, 2 PM
2018 Schedule
05 January – “California Rancho Cuisine” at Casa Dumetz Winery, Los Alamos, CA, (Central Coast), 7 PM. No admission fee, wine tasting is $15.
26 January – “Chuckwagons To The Pacific” at the Autry Museum of the American West, 6:30 PM ($)
23 February – “The First Rolling Kitchens” at the Autry Museum of the American West, 6:30 PM ($)
24 and 25 February – “Victorian Libations” at the Royal Victoria Theatre, Main Street near City Hall, Riverside Dickens Festival, Riverside CA, 2:15 PM.
21 March – Airline food history talk for Del Amo Flyers (Private event)
24 March – “Cooking and Dining in Victorian Southern California” at the San Pedro Library, San Pedro CA. 3 PM
06 April – “Cows and Cowboys in the 21st Century” at the Autry Museum of the American West, 6:30 PM ($)
07 April – “Food, Drink, and Manners at Shakespeare’s Table” at the La Mirada Library, 2 PM
24 – 25 April – Conduct culinary culture tour of Los Angeles for school group. (Private)
25 April – “Seven Gifts from La Kitchens to the World” at Cahuenga Library, Hollywood CA, 2:30 PM
28 April – “Seven Gifts From LA Kitchens To The World” at the Woodland Hills Library, 3 PM
21 July – “Seven Gifts from LA Kitchens To The World” at the Fairfax Branch Library, 11:30 AM
27 July – “Food, Drink, and Manners at Shakespeare’s Table” at the Memorial Branch Library, Los Angeles, 1 PM
26 August – Moderator of Los Angeles Restaurant History panel at Mark Taper Auditorium, Downtown Central Library, Los Angeles, 2:00 PM
08 September – Present rum talks at Caribbean-themed charity event, Los Angeles. (Private)
06 October – “Imbibing LA: Boozing It Up In The City of Angels” at the Chatsworth Library, Chatsworth CA, 2 PM
03 November – “Food on the Move in the American West” for the Huntington Westerners, Pasadena Women’s Club, 2 PM ($)
07 November – “The First California Cuisine” at the John Muir Branch Library, Los Angeles, 4 PM
12 November – “Food, Drink, and Manners At Shakespeare’s Table” for the Shakespeare Club of Pomona Valley, Joslyn Center, Claremont, CA, 2 PM
15 November – “The First California Cuisine” at the Silver Lake Branch Library, Los Angeles, 6:30 PM
17 November – “Dickens, Queen Victoria, and California Christmas Celebrations” for the Culinary Historians of San Diego, Central Library, 10:30 AM
26 November – “Food in the 1980’s” event at Chez Melange, Redondo Beach, CA, 7 PM ($)
08-09 December – “Dickens, Queen Victoria, and California Christmas Celebrations” at the Workman-Temple Homestead Museum, City of Industry CA. 1 PM and 3 PM daily
15 December – “Food on the Move in the American West” at the Pacific Palisades Library, Pacific Palisades, CA, 2 PM
2017 Schedule
23 January – “Dickens, Queen Victoria, and California Christmas Celebrations” at the Banning Museum, Wilmington CA 10:30 AM
24 January – Presentation on the history of food in flight at the Airline Symposium in Huntington Beach (corporate event)
27 January – Host at “The Thoughtful Feast” Global Burns Night at Redbird in Los Angeles, 7 PM ($)
28 January – “Food and Drink at Shakespeare’s Table” at the Washington Irving Branch Library, Los Angeles, 11:30 AM
01 February – “The Elizabethan Mind” at the Westwood Public Library, Westwood CA, 6:30 PM
09 February – “History of Dining in LA’s Beach Cities” at the Hermosa Beach Historical Society, 7 PM
20 February – “History of Drinking in Los Angeles” talk for Historical Society of Crescenta Vallley at Center for Spiritual Living, 7 PM
22 February – Host and Speaker at The Thoughtful Feast “Spirit of Old California” dinner. Sausal Restaurant, El Segundo CA. Info HERE. ($)
05 March – Host and Speaker at The Thoughtful Feast “Lost Basque Cuisine of Los Angeles” dinner, A Basque Kitchen, Redondo Beach CA. ($)
25 March – “Cooking and Dining in Victorian Southern California” at Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site, Long Beach CA, 10 AM
18 April – “Food, Drink, and Manners at Shakespeare’s Table” at the Claremont Public Library, Claremont CA, 6:30 PM
04 May – “Challenges in Culinary History” at Las Vecinas Club, Palos Verdes Estates, 1 PM (Private)
21 June – “When Luxury Floated Through The Skies” at Pasadena Village Hall, Pasadena CA, 4 PM
18 July – Host and speaker at The Thoughtful Feast “Austro-Hungarian Wine Dinner” at Chef Hannes in El Segundo, 7 PM SOLD OUT ($)
29 July – “From Tubes and Cubes To Space Espresso” at the Washington Irving Branch Library, Los Angeles, CA, 1 PM.
05 August – “How Prohibition Changed America” at Rancho Los Alamitos historical site, Long Beach CA. 5 PM Information and tickets HERE ($)
07 August – Host and speaker at The Thoughtful Feast “Summer Supper in Sumatra” – more information HERE ($)
11 August – “How Prohibition Changed America” at Society of Wine Educators Conference, Portland OR. 8:30 AM (Event registration required)
08 October – “Drinking With Jane Austen” at Jane Austen Society of North America General Meeting, Newport Beach, CA 2:30 PM (Event registration required)
06 November – Host and speaker at history of dining in the South Bay event at Chez Melange, Redondo Beach CA, 7 PM ($)
17 November -“Dickens, Queen Victoria, and California Christmas Celebrations” at Joslyn Center in Manhattan Beach, CA 10:00 AM
25 November – “Cultural Appreciation or Cultural Appropriation?” panel at Loscon science fiction convention, Los Angeles CA 5:30 PM
05 December – Repeal Day celebration “How Prohibition Changed America” at J Trani’s Restaurant, San Pedro CA, 7 PM Tickets HERE ($)
09 December – “From Mission to Prohibition: An Incomplete History of Drinking in Southern California” at the Claremont Public Library, Claremont CA, 3 PM
16 December -“Dickens, Queen Victoria, and California Christmas Celebrations” at Pacific Palisades Library, Pacific Palisades CA, 2 PM
2016 Schedule
16 January – “From Tubes and Cubes to Space Espresso” for Culinary Historians of San Diego, Neil Morgan Auditorium, San Diego, 10:30 AM.
05 February – History of Food in Flight presentation for Zodiac Aerospace (corporate presentation).
12 February – “Seven Gifts From LA Kitchens To The World” talk at Joslyn Center, Manhattan Beach, CA, 10 AM.
27-28 February – “Rum, Gin, and Other Spirits in Victorian England: Celebration and Abuse” at the Riverside Dickens Festival, Riverside CA.
15 March – “Seven Gifts From LA Kitchens To The World” at the Claremont Public Library, Claremont, CA, 6:30 PM.
16 March – “The Victorian English Diet” talk at the Pasadena Village Club, Pasadena CA, 3 PM.
30 April – “Victorian-Era Cooking in Southern California” talk at Workman Temple Homestead Victorian Fair, City of Industry CA. 1:30, 2:30, 3:30, and 4:30 PM.
01 May – “History of Food in Flight” talk for Delta Pioneers, Marina del Rey CA. (Private)
11 June – “Great and Awful Moments in the History of Aerial Dining” at the William Allen Theater, Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington, 2 PM.
12 June – “From Tubes and Cubes to Space Espresso” at the William Allen Theater, Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington, 2 PM.
13 June – “Myths, Mysteries, and Misconceptions From The World of Rum” at La Isla, Ballard WA, 6:30 PM. More information and tickets are HERE. ($)
18 June – “Food, Drink, and Manners at Shakespeare’s Table” for Culinary Historians of San Diego, Neil Morgan Auditorium, San Diego, 10:30 AM. Talk is in conjunction with a display of an original First Folio of Shakespeare’s plays.
23 July – “Seven Gifts From LA Kitchens to the World” presentation at Topanga Library, Topanga CA. 2 PM
15 August – “Myths, Mysteries, and Misconceptions About Rum” at Westbound in Los Angeles. Tickets at the Museum of the American Cocktail website. ($)
18-20 August – “How Prohibition Changed America And Spawned The Tiki Movement” at Tiki Oasis, San Diego (Event registration required)
21 August – Live radio interview with Flavors radio show on KSCO, also a podcast at FlavorIsEverything.com
10 September – “Victorian-era Food in Southern California” at the Banning House Museum, San Pedro CA, 10 AM. (Private event)
01 December – Introduce and host The Thoughtful Feast event: “A California Whiskey Dinner” at 1212 Restaurant in Santa Monica. 6:30 PM ($)
04 December – “Victorian Food in Southern California” at the Workman-Temple Homestead Museum – 3 talks, Noon, 2 PM, and 4 PM.
07 December – “The Victorian English Diet” at Palos Verdes Peninsula Village, 11 AM
08 December – “The Elizabethan Mind: What Shakespeare’s Audiences Knew” lecture at the Pacoima Branch Library, 6:30 PM
17 December – “Victorian Cooking in Southern California” at the Pacific Palisades Library, 2 PM.
2015 Schedule
17 January – “From Tubes and Cubes to Space Espresso” lecture for OASIS (Organization for Space Industrialization and Settlement), A-Man Science Discovery & Learning Center, 101 South La Brea, Inglewood, 3:30 PM
24 January – Book signing at LAX Airline Expo, Long Beach CA
27 January – “Technology of Food in Flight” lecture at Cal State Dominguez Hills, 10 AM
31 January – “Drinking With Jane Austen” lecture at Jane Austen Ball, Pasadena CA. More information at janeaustenevening.org ($)
01 February – “History of Tea” lecture for the Victorian Tea & Dance Society, Pasadena, CA
21-22 February – “Lady Clutterbuck and The Dickens Family Table” lecture at the Riverside Dickens Festival, Riverside CA. (10:15 am and 4:15 pm.)
01 March – Panelist on “World Of Longbourne” program at the Santa Monica Public Library, 2 PM
09 April – “Drinking With Jane Austen” program at the Bay Shore Library, Long Beach CA 6:30 PM
11 April – Moderator for food writing panel at Literary Orange festival, Irvine, CA. Website at literaryorange.org.
21 April – “When Luxury Floated Through The Skies” program for Del Amo Flyers. Torrance CA
03 June – “When Luxury Floated Through The Skies” program for OLLI Institute, Cal State University Dominguez Hills, Carson CA
06 June – “Seven Gifts from LA Kitchens to the World” lecture at Japanese American National Museum, 100 North Central Avenue, Los Angeles CA, 2 PM
07 June – Appearance at Author Fair, El Segundo, CA Public Library, 1 PM
08 June – “Seven Gifts From LA Kitchens To The World” lecture at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, Los Angeles, 2 PM
09 June – “Myths, Mysteries, and Misconceptions about Rum” at Hey 19 Restaurant, 4525 Calle Mayor, Torrance CA, 6:30 PM.
13 June – “From Tubes and Cubes To Space Espresso” lecture for Culinary Historians of Southern California, Los Angeles Downtown Central Library, 10:30 AM.
25 June – “Seven Gifts From LA Kitchens to the World” at the Alma Reaves Woods -Watts Branch Library, Los Angeles, 3:30 PM.
03 July – Conduct Los Angeles food history tour for Chinese business group. (Corporate event)
06 August – Panels and programs at Farm To Table International Symposium, New Orleans, LA
14 August – “Myths, Mysteries, and Misconceptions from the World of Rum” talk at Tiki Oasis, San Diego, CA. More information on this three-day extravaganza is at their website.
19 August – “Drinking With Jane Austen” talk at Westwood Public Library, Los Angeles, CA, 6:30 PM.
29 August – “Seven Gifts From LA Kitchens To The World” lecture at the Venice Public Library, Venice CA, 11:30 AM.
01 September – “Manners and Ritual at the World’s Tables” for OLLI Institute at Cal State Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA 10 AM
17 September – “Tasting The Past: Challenges in Culinary History” lecture at the North Hollywood Regional Library, North Hollywood CA, 6 PM.
22 September – “Technology Of Inflight Dining” lecture at Flight Path Museum, El Segundo, CA 10 AM
17 October – “Imbibing LA” lecture for “L.A. As Subject” symposium, Doheny Memorial Library, USC Campus, Los Angeles. 4:15 PM.
22 October – “From Tubes and Cubes To Space Espresso” lecture for Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society, 6012 Tyrone Ave, Van Nuys CA, 8 PM. Open to the public, talk follows short meeting.
24 October – Interview about history of food in flight on So Cal Restaurant Show with Andy Harris, KLAA Los Angeles, 11 AM.
05 November – “Seven Gifts From LA Kitchens” lecture for Las Vecinas Club, Palos Verdes Estates, CA, 1:30 PM
12 November – “From Tubes and Cubes To Space Espresso” presentation for SpaceX Speakers Series, SpaceX Headquarters, Hawthorne CA.(Not open to public.)
03 December – “History of Food in Flight” lecture at Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland, New Zealand. More information HERE.
09 December – “Drinking With Jane Austen” lecture sponsored by the Wagga Wagga City Theatre, Wagga Wagga, Australia – More information HERE.
12 December – “Drinking With Jane Austen” talk for Jane Austen Society of Australia, 99 On York Conference Centre, Sydney AU.
16 December – “Drinking With Charles Dickens” talk at the Westwood Public Library, 6:30 PM.
19 December – “Imbibing LA” talk at Pacific Palisades Public Library, 2 PM.
———————————————————————————–
2014 Schedule
22 January – “Dining At Shakespeare’s Table” lecture at Lifelong Learning Institute – Carson, CA.
30 January – “Challenges In Culinary History” lecture at California State University, Dominguez Hills CA.
22-23 February – “Dining in Dickens’ Era” lectures twice daily at Riverside Dickens Festival in downtown Riverside, CA.
22 March – “Drinking With Jane Austen” at the Jane Austen Tea, Yorba Linda Public Library, Yorba Linda CA.
03-04 May – Talks on Rum, Victorian Libations, and the 19th Century English Diet at Gaslight Gathering, Town and Country Hotel, San Diego CA.
20 June – Shakespearean Culture evening at the Altadena Library – Wren plays Elizabethan music, followed by Richard Foss lecturing on Elizabethan food and drink.
02-04 August – Panels and programs at Farm To Table Conference, New Orleans, LA
17 August – “Challenges of Culinary History” lecture at San Pedro, CA Public Library, 2 PM
18 August – “How Prohibition Changed America” lecture – Museum of the American Cocktail event at Roxanne’s in Long Beach, CA, 6:30 PM. Information at cocktailmuseum.org.
10 September – “Challenges and Rewards of Culinary History” lecture at Cal State Dominguez Hills, 10 AM
17 September – “Cuisine in the Ancient World” lecture at Vermont Square Library, Los Angeles. 4 PM
18 September – “Drinking With Jane Austen” lecture at Claremont Public Library, Claremont CA. 7 PM.
20 September – “How Prohibition Changed America” Lecture for Culinary Historians of San Diego at San Diego Central Library, 10:30 AM.
15 October – “American Fermented: The History of Alcohol in Colonial America” lecture at Sherman Oaks Public Library, Sherman Oaks CA. 6:30 PM
20 October – “Diet That Built Western Civilization” at Venice Public Library, Venice CA.
21 October – “Food and Culture of Shakespeare’s England” at Granada Hills Public Library, 6:30 PM
22 October – “How Prohibition Changed America” lecture at Sherman Oaks Public Library, 6:30 PM
22 November – “Rum Master” at the Stroke Recovery Center Benefit, Riviera Hotel, Palm Springs, CA
05 December – How Prohibition Changed America” Repeal Day celebration at Del Monte Speakeasy, Venica CA, 7 PM. Whole pig roast, live jazz quartet.
06 December – “Dickensian Feasts and the Victorian Diet” lecture at the Torrance Public Library, 1 PM
15 December – “Festive Libations of Dickens’ Era” at the Venice Abbot Kinney Library, 6:30 PM
20 December – “Dining Aboard Zeppelins” lecture for Culinary Historians of Southern California, Pacific Palisades Library, CA
21 December – “Dickensian Feasts and the Victorian Diet” lecture at the San Pedro Library, 2 PM
———————————————————————————–
2013 Schedule
31 January – Omnilore Lecture at Palos Verdes Country Club – “Challenges in Culinary History” – 12 Noon –
01-02 February – “Dickens Favorite Punch and the Libations of His Times” at the Riverside Dickens Festival -1 PM and 4 PM.
26 February-19 March – “500 Years of American Food” classes at Osher Institute – UCLA Extension – Tuesdays at 1 PM.
16 March – “How Prohibition Changed America” lecture at the Torrance Public Library, 3301 Torrance Boulevard. 2 PM.
20 April – “How Prohibition Changed America” lecture at the Pacific Palisades Public Library, 861 Alma Real Drive. 2 PM.
07 June – “Los Angeles Culinary Traditions” lecture at Joslyn Center, 1601 N. Valley Drive, Manhattan Beach, as part of Osher Lifelong Learning’s program.10 AM.
17 June – “How Prohibition Changed America” lecture at Forbidden Island, 1304 Lincoln Avenue, Alameda, CA. Begins 7 PM, followed by a rum tasting.
19 June – “Culinary Culture of Spain” lecture at the Yorba Linda Public Library’s “Reading Is Delicious” event (also featuring flamenco dancers and guitarists). 7 PM, 18181 Imperial Highway, Yorba Linda, 7 PM.
22 June – “How Prohibition Changed America” lecture at the Big Bear Library, Big Bear, CA. Lecture begins 1 PM
25 July – Lecture on Culinary History of Los Angeles, Torrance Public Library, 3301 Torance Blvd. No charge
03 August – Moderator on “Food and Cultural Identity” and “Farm to Table Restaurants” panels at 1st Annual Farm to Table Conference, New Orleans.
10 September – OLLI Lecture at Carson Community Center – History of Spanish Cuisine.
12 September – OLLI Lecture at Cal State University Dominguez Hills – Flavors Of The Past – Challenges In Culinary History.
17 September – OLLI Lecture in Torrance – How Prohibition Changed America.
28 September – ((Minneapolis lecture canceled, sorry.))
01 November – History of Spanish Cuisine lecture at Altadena Library, 600 East Mariposa Street, Altadena. Tapas served, live flamenco music and dance performance.
21 December – Raising A Glass With Charles Dickens – Lecture on Victorian drinks, with an emphasis on those mentioned in Dickens’ work. Pacific Palisades Public Library, 861 Alma Real Drive. 2 PM.
———————————————————————————–
2012 Schedule
03 May – Rum book debut and signing at Pages Bookstore, Manhattan Beach CA. 7 PM
10 May – Dining With Shakespeare lecture and Elizabethan tavern dinner at South Bay School of Cooking, Redondo Beach CA.
26 May – Lecture: ”American Fermented: Five Alcoholic Beverages in American History.” Torrance Public Library, 3301 Torrance Boulevard, Torrance CA. 2 PM.
14 June – Colonial American Cooking lecture and 18th Century American dinner at South Bay School of Cooking in Redondo Beach, CA. Guest lecturer Simon Spalding will explain cooking in period kitchens and play 18th century favorites on fiddle. 6:30 PM
24 June – Lecture: “Reflections on Rum, Spirit of the Cane” for the Culinary Historians of Washington DC. Bethesda/Chevy Chase Services Center, Bethesda MD, 2:30 PM http://www.chowdc.org/
25 June – “Edible Conversations” dinner and program at the Roger Smith Hotel in New York City, 7 PM.
Title: A Drinkable Conversation: Vodka and Rum
Description: For the past four centuries, spirits have played crucial roles in American and world history. Three authors of recently published books will tell the tales of how rum and vodka have changed history and will discuss the importance of these beverages today. Speakers are Patricia Herlihy, Professor Emeritus of History, Brown University, and author of Vodka: A Global History, and Richard Foss, teaches Culinary History at Osher Institute/UCLA Extension, and author of Rum: A Global History. Moderated by Andrew F. Smith. Cost: $64.29, including a four course tasting menu inspired by the books, beverages and copies of both of the authors’ books. To register: www.vodkaginrum.eventbrite.com
26 June – Culinary history program at the New School in New York City, 6 PM.
26 June – Lecture for National Arts Club: ”Drinking With Jane Austen,” at National Arts Club, New York City, 8 PM http://www.nationalartsclub.org
11 July – Book signing at Smuggler’s Cove Rum Bar, San Francisco – 650 Gough Street, 6 to 8 PM.
12 July – Lecture for the Culinary Historians of Northern California at Omnivore Books in San Francisco, 6 PM – Reflections on Rum
13 August- Lecture at Big Bear Library, CA: “What Shakespeare Left Out: The Elizabethan Mind,” 7 PM
08 September – Lecture for Culinary Historians of Southern California, Los Angeles Central Library, 10:30 AM.
27 October – Lecture at Tryon Palace, New Bern North Carolina: “Drinking With Jane Austen,” 2 PM
28 October – Lecture at the Main Library, Wilmington NC: “Reflections on Rum, Spirit of the Cane” 2 PM
02 November – Lecture at The History Place, Morehead City, NC. “Reflections on Rum, Spirit of the Cane” 7 PM.
03 November – Lecture at Tryon Palace, New Bern North Carolina: “American Fermented,” 2 PM.
28 November – Lecture at Manhattan Beach Public Library – “Drinking With Jane Austen.” 7 PM.
– END –