Smithsonian Lecture Series: The Culture of Food

Join Pittsburgh native and public historian Dr. Ashley Rose Young for the next installment of the Smithsonian Lecture Series as she shares the vibrant story of New Orleans food culture.

Drawing from her book, “Nourishing Networks: The Public Culture of Food in New Orleans,” Dr. Young will discuss how food shapes culture and community, bringing insights from her work as a Smithsonian research associate and former historian of the Smithsonian Food History Project.

In the spirit of Mardi Gras, this program invites audiences to revel in the mystery and magic of New Orleans while reflecting on its deeper struggles to feed a diverse city safely and affordably. Dr. Young will also highlight similarities between New Orleans and Pittsburgh—two river cities with rich food traditions and resilient communities shaped by migration, labor, and local enterprise.

Dr. Young brings a local perspective to the topic. She grew up in the Pittsburgh region working alongside her family at McGinnis Sisters Special Food Stores, the beloved specialty markets founded by her mother and aunts and long recognized as a cornerstone of the region’s food culture.