General Washington’s War Time Cooks

Part of Saratoga's Fall Lecture Series presented in partnership with the Friends of Saratoga Battlefield.

Although there is only one “Washington’s Headquarters” in New York, there are numerous signs around the region stating, “Washington slept here.” Which means he also ate there. But typically, not food prepared by the household’s cook, but by his own staff, led by Hannah Till, an enslaved woman, and her husband Isaac. Who were they? What skills may they have had? Join us as we look at current research on Hannah & Isaac and ponder what it may have been like to travel and cook around the region for Washington. Reservations are required. Email us at sara_reservations@nps.gov to reserve your spot! Please include the date of the program you wish to attend.

Speaker Lavada Nahon is a culinary historian with 30 years public history experience. She focuses on New Netherland and New York, 17th through 19th centuries, specifically, the lives and cultures of Africans and their descendants, enslaved and free. Lavada is also the first Interpreter of African American History for New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Bureau of Historic Sites. A position she has held for five years. She has worked for a wide variety of historic sites and organizations around the tri-state region, and is a noted and recently retired, hearth cook and teacher. Her mission is to bring history to life by giving presence to the Africans and people of African descent enslaved and free, in New Netherland and New York in whatever way possible.