Va. history museum curator to study tavern food

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The Associated Press
© September 10, 2011

MARTINSVILLE

The curator of archaeology at the Virginia Museum of Natural History in Martinsville is studying the food eaten by guests visiting an 18th century tavern.

Elizabeth Moore will study the Golden Ball Tavern in Petersburg. It served as an important meeting venue for America's founding fathers and later British officers during the American Revolution.

Taverns were among the few public places where people could gather to discuss the issues of the day.

British officers were quartered at the tavern in 1781. And in 1784, the General Assembly established it as a meeting place of the courts and the common council.

Moore is analyzing remains from pigs, cows, lambs, chickens, and various wild game served there. She says they can provide important clues to the economic changes occurring at the time.

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Beertender!

Submitted by truthseeker on Sun, 09/11/2011 at 2:10 pm.

Bring me another bar! Food? ah, er, yes, I suppose there WAS some food. Va law requires it, doesn't it? "And more beer for my horses!"

Let me guess

Submitted by laura eichbaum on Sat, 09/10/2011 at 10:52 pm.

Their diet wasn't any better than what we consume now. Good for them. At least they didn't have a bunch of do gooders telling them what they could and could not eat.

What a waste of brainpower

Submitted by BeachBoy2 on Sat, 09/10/2011 at 7:59 pm.

What immediately comes to mind is, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste."

Please tell me that this isn't being paid for with tax dollars.

Smithfield Inn

Submitted by elsie-eye on Sat, 09/10/2011 at 7:12 pm.

Yes, yes, yes! She-crab soup, crab cakes, country ham biscuits, and the best chicken salad ever!

Ditto

Submitted by rfschlegel on Sat, 09/10/2011 at 8:12 pm.

And don't forget their bread pudding --- after my grandmother's, it's the best I have ever had (and I've had a lot).

Federal Research Grant?

Submitted by rfschlegel on Sat, 09/10/2011 at 1:13 pm.

I'm not exactly sure what this article is talking about --- how do you study the remains of animals and wild game served to tavern guests in the 18th century? Whatever's going on, I hope it's a PRIVATE research grant!

I could recommend she spend a little time at the Smithfield Inn, which was, among other things, a 18th century tavern during a part of its long and glorious history. Doubt if she would have much luck studying food left-overs there --- the food's so good, left-overs are a real rarity!