Taste of the Past at Raven Hill Discovery Center
Date and Time
Saturday May 30, 2026
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT
Location
4737 Fuller Rd.
East Jordan, MI 49727
Website
Contact Information
231-536-3369
Send Email
Description
About This Event
Step back in time and experience how meals were prepared before modern kitchens. Taste of the Past is a hands‑on cooking class that explores historic foodways and traditional methods of preparing simple, nourishing meals over an open fire or hearth.
Step back in time and experience how meals were prepared before modern kitchens. Taste of the Past is a hands‑on cooking class that explores historic foodways and traditional methods of preparing simple, nourishing meals over an open fire or hearth.
Participants will learn to prepare and cook historic staples such as ash cakes, bread on a stick, basic stews, roasted chickens, and pan fritters, using techniques that were common for early settlers, travelers, and homesteaders. Recipes and cooking projects may vary depending on class interest, group size, and available time.
This class is ideal for anyone curious about history, traditional skills, outdoor cooking, or self‑sufficient food preparation—and no prior cooking experience is required.
What to Expect:
During this class, participants will:
Learn historic cooking techniques used before modern ovens and stoves
Prepare traditional foods such as:Ash cakes and hearth breads
Bread cooked on a stick
Simple stews
Roasted chicken
Pan fritters
Cook using open fire or hearth methods, gaining an appreciation for heat control and timing
Bread cooked on a stick
Simple stews
Roasted chicken
Pan fritters
Cook using open fire or hearth methods, gaining an appreciation for heat control and timing
Discover the historical context behind these foods—why they were common and how ingredients were chosen
Take part in hands‑on food preparation and group cooking activities
Sample the dishes prepared during classThe class environment is relaxed, informative, and designed to be engaging for learners of varying ages and experience levels.
Printed courtesy of www.elkrapidschamber.org/ – Contact the Elk Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce for more information.
305 US-31 North, Elk Rapids, MI 49629 – (231) 264-8202 – info@elkrapidschamber.org