Beyond beefsteak and onions: engaging the foodscape at the 1876 Centennial Exposition. (15th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nepa, Stephen
• Is Part Of: Food, culture, & society. Volume 24:Number 2(2021)
• Page Start: 187
• Page End: 201
• Publication Date: 2021-03-15
• Subjects: Philadelphia -- Centennial Exposition -- world's fair -- foodscape -- restaurants -- food; Food -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Nutrition policy -- Periodicals; 641
• DOI: 10.1080/15528014.2021.1874204
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-7443

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Although many scholars have examined the history and culture of the first United States-hosted World's Fair, little coverage has been given to the various items and products that comprised its foodscape. To that end, this paper considers the creation of and engagement with the food and drink provided to fairgoers at the 1876 Centennial Exposition held in Philadelphia. In addition to superlatives in technology, architecture, and other pursuits, planners and purveyors of the fair described the event as the first to showcase food and drink from around the world. By examining menus, newspaper and magazine articles, tour guides, personal recollections, and other ephemera, I will show that the Centennial foodscape earned more detraction than praise for a variety of historical and cultural reasons. Those reasons include economic constraints, sanitary issues, geographic limitations, and difficulties in exposing the average American fairgoer to new or unfamiliar ingredients and recipes.