Dinner in the Valley: From Senegal to Savannah — How African Food Traditions Shaped American Cuisine

Before becoming staples in North America, many foods made their way across the ocean via the transatlantic slave route between the 16th and 19th centuries. Fresh from penning the African American Heritage Cookbook, highlighting African-American heritage foodways, Chef Larkin Rogers will prepare a meal featuring authentic African-American recipes from the 1700 – 1800’s.

The Conservancy’s Dinner in the Valley is a unique dining experience that will give you a personal connection to the food you eat, the chef who prepares it, your fellow diners, and your national park. Gather around a shared table and savor a meal crafted from the best local ingredients of the season, hand-selected by Chef Larkin Rogers.

Chef Larkin creates your menu based on the best and freshest seasonal foods available at the farmers’ market, our kitchen garden, and from other local sources. Since we’re not always 100% sure what she’ll find, we don’t release a menu until 2-4 weeks before dinner is served. Think of it this way: It will be a delicious surprise!

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