Have you ever wondered what was served on the South’s finest tables two centuries ago? You’re invited to savor tasty dishes from the first Southern cookbook, and learn about the cook who first put them on paper, in circa-1792 Blount Mansion. In 2020, historian Christopher E. Hendricks and his mother Sue J. Hendricks authored Old Southern Cookery: Mary Randolph’s Recipes from America’s First Regional Cookbook Adapted for Today’s Kitchen. Sue and Chris will prepare a selection of dishes from this modern twist on the historic cookbook at a special event at Blount Mansion on Friday evening, May 20th. The evening will begin with a reception in the Blount Mansion garden featuring eighteenth-century style punch, beer, wine, and appetizers from Mary Randolph’s 1824 cookbook. Next, dinner will be served inside the circa-1818 Craighead-Jackson House. Afterwards, we will enjoy dessert inside the Blount Mansion Visitors Center as Chris and Sue give a presentation on the original 1824 book and its author. Participants will have an opportunity purchase a signed copy of Chris and Sue’s new cookbook at $5 off the cover price. Tickets are $50 per person. Seats are limited, so please reserve your space today. Visit https://blountmansion.org/events/ to view the menu and purchase your ticket, or call (865) 525-2375 to order by phone. This event is a fundraiser for ca-1796 Blount Mansion, Knox County’s only National Historic Landmark. More information on our museum at www.blountmansion.org.