Exhibit offers food history at library

Visitors to the Ascension Parish Library’s Dutchtown branch are getting a lesson in the history of food during a stop by a Louisiana Bicentennial traveling exhibit.

Branch librarian Stephanie Mayeux said the Southern Foodways Bicentennial Exhibit includes a series of panels explaining the contributions of everything from sugar cane to New Orleans restaurants.

“200 Years of Taste,” an exhibit designed by the Southern Food and Beverage Museum in New Orleans, will be displayed at the Dutchtown branch through Oct. 6.

The library staff added a display of Louisiana food products and books “to give visitors something extra,” Mayeux said.

The display is part of a yearlong series of programs and exhibits the library has hosted to celebrate the state’s 200th birthday.

Past programs have included history discussions for adults and children’s storytimes.

The Donaldsonville branch will host “Vanishing Coastline: Can It Be Saved?” at 6 p.m. Oct. 11, and Rob Mann will talk about archaeological excavations at the LSU campus mounds during a 6:30 p.m. program on Oct. 18 at the Galvez branch.

Girls will learn all about the two American Girl book series Louisiana-based characters during a Nov. 17 program at the Dutchtown branch.

“We’re very excited about the American Girls series — ‘Meet Marie-Grace & Cecile,’” she said.

Mayeux said programs with a local theme are always important and “these bicentennial programs have been very well-received.”

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