Magnolia Plantation and Garden presents Cooking Demonstration on June 16

PAWLEY’S ISLAND, SC –  Magnolia Plantation and Garden’s food historian Heather Welch will give a cooking demonstration Saturday, June 16, to show how Lowcountry families enjoyed picnics to ease the misery following the Civil War.
 
The outdoor demonstration will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Magnolia near the ticket booth.
 
Picnics became a regular summertime activity at Magnolia beginning in the 1870s after the Rev. John Grimke Drayton opened Magnolia and its gardens to the public.
 
The menu for the demonstration will include roasted beef with cold slaw, cornbread and cake, Welch said.
Picnics in the 19th century would also include pickled vegetables, wine or punch and a variety of fresh fruit, she said.
Traditionally, picnics would be hosted by one person with that person providing the entree’ or meat dish, and the guests would bring a dish to add to the feast.
 
As the 19th century progressed, the picnic feast became the sole responsibility of the host, Welch said. Barbecues were very similar. The picnic feast would be enjoyed by the plantation owners and his guests while the foods were prepared and served by the African-American workers on the plantation.
 
The dishes were influenced by European and African cuisines, she said. The Europeans contributed many familiar dishes we know today as typical picnic fare, such as sandwiches and stuffed or deviled eggs. The African influence to the meal is seen in the serving of fried chicken, which has become a staple to every Southern picnic.
 
The cooked food will not be served during the demonstration, which is free with garden admission. For more information, call 843-571-1266.