Sadly, I spent very little time on the cooking side of the Cast Iron Chef event but the brewing was VERY SUCCESSFUL. We had ten journeyman brewers who were very hands on (see photos below). We also debuted the new 1 bbl brewing set-up. I spent a significant amount of time (and money) building new …
Author Archives: Michael Carver
A Short History of Mapmaking in the Americas
Maps of land surfaces and charts of the sea coasts are scaled down representations of the earth’s surface. They are ideal documents to prove that a discovery has taken place and provide the means for the exploration to be repeated by others. They are tremendous assets to the military and are a great aid to …
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Basic Colonial Brewing #2 — Brewing in the 18th Century
Beer was once considered the most health drink to give to children and vital to survival. To understand this, you must first understand that centuries of dense urban living had left the water in Europe unsafe to drink. People of the 18th Century did not understand why but they did observe that people who drank …
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The original “Doctor Death”
During the 1700’s, executions in France were public events where entire towns gathered to watch. A common execution method for a poor criminal was quartering, where the prisoner’s limbs were tied to four oxen, then the animals were driven in four different directions ripping the person apart. Upper-class criminals could buy their way into a …
Supply Chain Issues? — The Bread Famine in 18th-century France.
Yesterday, I was dismayed at the lack of stocking in my local Giant supermarket. Voltaire once remarked that Parisians required only “the comic opera and white bread.” But bread has also played a dark role in French history and, namely, the French Revolution. The storming of the medieval fortress of Bastille on July 14, 1789 …
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January 21, 1793 King Louis XVI executed
One day after being convicted of conspiracy with foreign powers and sentenced to death by the French National Convention, King Louis XVI is executed by guillotine in the Place de la Revolution in Paris. Louis ascended to the French throne in 1774 and from the start was unsuited to deal with the severe financial problems …
In Case You Missed Us Today on FOX 29
This weekend in Cast Iron Chef and February 5th is The Curious Case of Lt Boddy… Here is the TV preview… https://www.fox29.com/video/1025860 https://www.fox29.com/video/1025890
Fighting the War behind a Desk
History books are filled with glorification of exploits on the battlefield and we have all heard the story of Alexander Hamilton bristling at the role of Aide-du-Camp and demanding his opportunity to prove himself in the field. The reality of military operations, however, is very different. Much of the real WORK of a military commander …
The Elephant in the Room
Okay, unless you are not paying attention you should be concerned about COVID-19 and the upcoming events at Fort Mifflin. We have not reached the point where canceling or rescheduling this event is necessary but we are taking certain safety precautions and will appreciate your compliance with the following: If you are ill, stay home. …
Consider becoming an Apprentice Cook at Fort Mifflin on January 22, 2022
Consider becoming an Apprentice Cook at Fort Mifflin On January 22, 2022; Fort Mifflin is running our Cast Iron Chef & Colonial Brewing. The Regimental Brewmeister and our team of hearth cooks is creating a unique hands-on experience in early 19th century foodways. Normally, I would be pushing for you to join me, the Regimental …
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