The spirit of 19th-century cooking was alive and well as volunteers gathered for the siteโs first-ever โHearth Wars,โ a hands-on cooking competition that blended history, creativity, and community.
Taking top honors were site volunteers Matt and Jeni Luce of Brookshire. Second place went to the team of Merideth Oliver of League City and Meaghan Cybulski of Katy. The competition was judged by Nicole Shadle, lead educator at the San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site.
Originally, four teams had signed up to compete, including two teams made up of Texas Historical Commission employees. However, after the event had to be rescheduled, the employee teams were unable to attend. Despite the smaller number of competitors, the day proved to be a busy one for the site, with more than 100 visitors coming through.
The event coincided with several other activities, including a Spring Break program centered on pie dough in celebration of Pi Day, as well as the siteโs monthly โSecond Saturdays with Steveโ program held both at Stephen F. Austin State Park and the historic site.
During Hearth Wars, teams were challenged to create at least one dish using a โsecret ingredientโ revealed ahead of the competitionโcloves. The spice, commonly associated with the holiday season today, was widely used in earlier centuries and would have been shipped in bulk to San Felipe de Austin for sale. Families in the 1830s would have ground cloves and other spices at home using a mortar and pestle.
In preparation, participants researched and practiced historic recipes from the 1830s. On the day of the event, they used authentic cooking techniques on hearths, or fireplaces, to recreate dishes from the time period.
Judging was based on five criteria: taste, presentation, historical accuracy, interpretation of the dish, and creativity.
Historic food programs like Hearth Wars continue to be a favorite among visitors at museums across the country. Organizers say food provides a unique connection between modern audiences and the past, offering a shared experience that transcends time.
The competition also serves as an opportunity for volunteers to deepen their knowledge of historic cooking methods and ingredients. Organizers noted the excitement leading up to the event and praised the dedication and talent of the volunteer teams.
Plans are already in place to make Hearth Wars an annual event, with future dates to be announced!
You can find a PDF of Matt and Jeni’s winning recipes HERE.ย
