Pepperpot City: A Discussion with the Author

About this event

The Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides (APT) has arranged for a free Zoom webinar on November 18 at 7 pm. APT member Lauren McKinney will launch a "fireside chat" webinar (https://phillyguides.org/event/fireside-chat-with-william-woys-weaver-author-of-pepperpot-city/) with award-winning author William Woys Weaver (https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/contributor/william-woys-weaver/) discussing themes mentioned in his newest book, Pepperpot City (https://www.pennpress.org/9781512830040/pepperpot-city/), followed by questions from the viewers. This promises to be an exciting session exploring new topics, old questions, and how food defines who we are. William Woys Weaver is an internationally known food historian and award‑winning author of more than 23 books, including Heirloom Vegetable Gardening, As American as Shoofly Pie, and The Roughwood Book of Pickling. His work has received multiple International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) honors and a Julia Child Award, and he has appeared on NPR’s Fresh Air and Good Morning America. A former contributing editor to Gourmet and adjunct professor, Weaver has curated major culinary exhibitions and advises on historical foodways. An accomplished food photographer and organic gardener, his recent titles include Flavors from the Garden (2021) and Pennsylvania Dutch Folk Tales (2022). Pepperpot City was published in 2026. Pepperpot City: Philadelphia and the Foundation of American Cuisine, An Illustrated History is a lavishly illustrated collection of seventeen thematic essays ranging from memoir to investigative history written by veteran food writer and Philadelphian William Woys Weaver, providing an engaging and accessible tour of Old Philadelphia cuisine. For Weaver, it is pepperpot soup that evokes the dynamic at the center of Philadelphia’s culinary history, tracing how the soup’s African and Spanish heritage underwent many local adaptations that made it thoroughly Philadelphian. He also chronicles the careers of important individuals—showing how the culinary touchstones of what it means to cook American first emerged from the hands of an array of Philadelphia cooks and caterers. From ice cream to sweet potato pie, Weaver highlights the foods created in the Philadelphia region that are now quintessential symbols of American food culture: lemon meringue pie, cream cheese, tomato catsup, the hamburger, and even bubblegum. Pepperpot City also includes recipes from Old Philadelphia as well as full-color photographs of Weaver’s modernized re-creations of historical dishes, including pepperpot soup. Order the book at www.pennpress.org (http://www.pennpress.org/) and use discount code PENN-WWWEAVER30 at checkout for a 30% discount! Participation is free. Please RSVP on the website event description (https://phillyguides.org/event/fireside-chat-with-william-woys-weaver-author-of-pepperpot-city/); the Zoom link will be sent out a day or two before the webinar. Contact Alex Morigi [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) with any questions. The topic is fascinating and well-researched - please join us! Photo: right - Julia Child and William Woys Weaver in the 1990s