Ep 10. Hercules: Slave Chef to the Washingtons

In A Taste of History season 1 episode 10 titled "Hercules: Slave Chef to the Washingtons," host Walter Staib delves into the life of Hercules, a slave chef who cooked for George and Martha Washington. Staib begins by exploring the historic city of Philadelphia and its role in early American history before heading to Mount Vernon, Virginia, the home of the Washingtons.

Staib introduces viewers to Hercules, a skilled chef who cooked for the Washingtons and their guests for many years. Despite being a slave, Hercules was given a considerable amount of independence in the kitchen, where he was able to showcase his culinary abilities and even create some of his own original recipes. Staib explains the importance of food in the early American colonies and how genteel families like the Washingtons would have many different dishes at every meal, prepared by a skilled cook like Hercules.

The episode then switches focus to the cooking process itself. Staib visits a historic farm in Pennsylvania where he picks fresh ingredients for his own take on Hercules' recipes. He gives viewers a step-by-step guide on how to make some of Hercules' signature dishes including Virginia peanut soup and Martha Washington's famed chicken fricassee. Along the way, Staib also explains the importance of seasonality in early American cooking, with ingredients being used only when they were in season and preserving methods used for the rest of the year.

Returning to Mount Vernon, Staib takes viewers on a tour of the estate's kitchen, where he explains the essential tools that would have been used by Hercules and his kitchen staff. This includes a range of unique cooking gadgets such as a spit jack, used to turn meat over an open flame. Staib also delves into the often-overlooked role of slaves in early American cookery, including how they would have been responsible for hunting, fishing, and growing produce.

The episode closes with a homage to Hercules and the other slaves who played an integral role in the early American food industry. Staib reflects on the legacy of Hercules and the challenges he would have faced in his life, including the knowledge that he would never be free. Despite those challenges, Hercules is remembered for the culinary feats he achieved and the delicious dishes that he created, which still resonate with Americans today.

Overall, A Taste of History season 1 episode 10 provides a window into the world of early American cookery, with a particular focus on the life and legacy of Hercules, a remarkable slave chef who rose above his circumstances to become one of the most celebrated cooks of his time. Through Staib's cooking demonstrations and historical insights, viewers are given a taste of the types of food that would have been prepared by Hercules and his contemporaries, as well as the fascinating stories of the people behind the dishes.