Beans, Cod, Chowder: Boston Food History
What is Boston’s oldest restaurant? Why did Boston get the nickname Beantown? When did Italian food come to define the North End - and also the Nonantum section of Newton? Were Fig Newtons really named after the Garden City? Join Clara Silverstein, author of The Boston Chef’s Table cookbook, a former food writer at the Boston Herald, and current food columnist for the Newton Beacon, to learn more about local food history and how Boston’s current chefs define contemporary New England cooking.
Copies of The Boston Chef’s Table will be available for purchase and signing.
About the book: The Boston Chef’s Table (Globe Pequot Press) brings recipes from well-known chefs in the Boston area right to your kitchen. More than 50 recipes represent the very best contemporary recipes that Boston has to offer, customized for home cooks. In the book are profiles of chefs including Jody Adams, Joanne Chang, and Andy Husbands, and fascinating details about the city’s culinary history and ethnic food enclaves. Color photos showcase the recipes and the chefs who invented them, and Boston itself, a sought-after dining destination.
About the author: Clara Silverstein is a food historian, author, and experienced presenter with a passion for connecting the past to everyday eating. Her newest book is the second edition of The Boston Chef’s Table, a collection of recipes from local chefs with background on Boston food history. She is also co-author of The New England Soup Factory Cookbook. A former food writer at the Boston Herald, she has also published articles in The Boston Globe, Runner’s World, and The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America. With an M.A. in History from the University of Massachusetts Boston, Clara has led programs at institutions such as the National Archives, the Library of Virginia, and the New England Historic Genealogical Society.
Registration is encouraged, and you'll get a reminder if you sign up. Walk-ins are also welcome.
- Date:
- Wednesday, April 15, 2026
- Time:
- 7:00pm - 8:00pm
- Location:
- Druker Auditorium
- Audience:
- Adult
- Categories:
- Talks & Presentations
Registration has closed.
- Accessibility:
- Reasonable accommodations will be provided to persons with disabilities requiring assistance. If you need a reasonable accommodation, please contact the city of Newton’s ADA Coordinator at least two business days in advance of the meeting: adacoordinator@newtonma.gov or (617) 796-1440. For Telecommunications Relay Service, please dial 711 or call City Hall’s TTY/TDD line at 617-796-1089.