Smithsonian food project to stop by State Fair

Just about anything food related gets my attention, especially if it’s happening locally. Here is an item that caught my eye, and it’s something that I think every foodie should check out.

The Humanities Council of South Carolina is hosting an exhibit by the Smithsonian Institution that looks at the history of our national food culture. Key Ingredients: America by Food, part of the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street, will be touring five South Carolina communities in 2008-09, with an extra stop at the South Carolina State Fair this October.

The exhibit will look at the relationship between Americans and the food we eat, from growing and harvesting to preparation, presentation and consumption and traditions that have been shaped along the way.

The accompanying information booklet, created in partnership with McKissick Museum’s Folklife Resource Center, contains a wealth of information. For instance, did you know that today’s Southern fish camps started out as riverside campsites where mill workers could fry up the catfish they caught? Or that we can trace more than few outdoor cooking techniques back to Native Americans (barbecue, anyone)? Do you really know just how many uses there are for corn?

There also are some recipes included (the molasses muffins and doves in foil packages are two that I might have to try) and a brief history of South Carolina shrimping.

Each stop along the tour will have activities geared toward that community (cooking demonstrations, tours and tastings). Check out the Humanities Council Web site for a schedule of affiliated events: schumanities.org/index.php?c=calendar. Maybe I’ll see you there.

IF YOU GO

Key Ingredients: South Carolina by Food

• June 27-Aug. 10, Elloree Heritage Museum & Cultural Center, 2714 Cleveland St., Elloree. (803) 897-2252, www.Elloreemusum.org

• Aug. 15-Oct. 5, Belton Area Museum Association, 50 North Main St., Belton. (864)338-7400, www.beltonsc.com

• Oct. 8-19, South Carolina State Fair, State Fairgrounds, Columbia

• Oct. 24-Dec. 21, National Bean Market Museum, 111 Henry St., Lake City. (843) 374-1500, Lccm2002@ftc-i.net

• Jan. 9-March 1, 2009, Edgefield County Peach Museum, 416 Calhoun St., Johnston. (803) 275-0010, www.edgefieldcountychamber.org

• March 6-May 9, 2009, Edisto Island Museum, 8123 Chisolm Plantation Road, Edisto Island. (843) 869-1954, www.edistomuseum.org

• For more information: www.schumanities.org