Food/Cocktail Demo - The Cuisine of the War of 1812

Two food/cocktail demonstrations at the Jefferson Parish Library – one on each bank of the river – will honor the legacy of the War of 1812. 

Nora Wetzel, a local chef who specializes in the cuisine of southern France, will discuss what foods were consumed at the time of the war against the British and she will demonstrate a dish made at that time. Elizabeth Pearce, a local mixologist and owner of “Drink and Learn,” will also talk about the drinks consumed at the time, and she will demonstrate a cocktail.

These events will occur at the following dates and times.

6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 7 – East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie

6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 21 - West Bank Regional Library, 2751 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey

These events are free of charge and are open to the public. 

Patrons will be allowed to sample the dishes that are prepared during the demonstration. However, these demonstrations are not intended to serve as meals for those in the audience. Food will not be sold. Patrons younger than 21 years of age will not be served alcohol.

Wetzel began her professional career as a registered nurse and CPR instructor, which led to teaching heart-healthy programs as well as consulting to offshore-catering companies in the Gulf of Mexico. Wetzel has been a member of the New Orleans chapter of the American Culinary Federation and the New Orleans chapter of the American Institute of Wine and Food. She was active for 10 years in the nineteenth century open-hearth cooking program at the historic Hermann-Grima House.

Elizabeth Pearce is a Louisiana native and drinks historian who tells the story of New Orleans through its iconic beverages. She was named a “2017 Person to Watch” by New Orleans Magazine. Pearce is the host of the Drink & Learn podcast, the author of Drink Dat New Orleans, a guide to bars across New Orleans and a co-author of The French Quarter Drinking Companion, a narrative guide to 100 notable bars in America’s most eclectic neighborhood. She is the Education Specialist for the Sazerac liquor company. 

This event is co-sponsored by the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival, an annual five-day literary festival in the city of New Orleans. The festival is dedicated to the Pulitzer Prize-winning American playwright Tennessee Williams. Every year, it features several events related to the long career of Williams, as well as writing workshops, panel discussions, literary readings, stage performances, a book fair, music, writing contests, and other events related to American literature, poetry, drama, opera, film, photography, art, history, culture, and cooking. The signature event is the Stella and Stanley Shouting Contest that closes the festival.

For more information regarding this presentation, contact Chris Smith, Manager of Adult Programming for the library, at 504-889-8143 or wcsmith@jefferson.lib.la.us.