‘History of American Pies’ to explore culinary history at the Vandalia Statehouse State Historic Site

      The Vandalia Statehouse State Historic Site in Fayette County will host a culinary historian exploring the diverse and changing history of pies in the United States on Saturday, October. 4.

      Catherine Lambrecht will present her program, ‘History of American Pies’ at 2 p.m. at the historic site. The event, which is free and open to the public, is made possible by the Old Capital Foundation and Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

      Catherine Lambrecht is a veteran of culinary competitions at the Lake County and Illinois State fairs; a former University of Illinois Extension volunteer whose specialties were Master Food Preserver and Master Gardner; and a founder of Greater Midwest Foodways Alliance, Chicago Foodways Roundtable (sister organization to Culinary Historians of Chicago) and LTHforum.com, a Chicago culinary chat site. Lambrecht is also program director for the Highland Park Historical Society and Illinois Mycological Association and editor of “Heirloom Recipes from the Illinois State Fair, A Bicentennial Project.”

      A question-and-answer session will follow. Visitors will have the opportunity to share recipes as well and should bring their favorite family recipe. Refreshments will be served.

The Vandalia Statehouse is the oldest surviving capitol building in Illinois. It served as the state capitol from 1836 to 1839. It is open to the public each Wednesday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is located at 315 W. Gallatin Street., Vandalia, IL 62471.

      For more information, call the Vandalia Statehouse at 618-283-1161.