Positively Philadelphia: A Children's Book About Food History

by KYW's Lauren Lipton

With July 4th just around the corner, it's a good time to look back at the country's early days and what life was like back then.

Philadelphia's rich history tells us a lot, and some of the more unusual things are documented in a new book by City Tavern chef and proprietor Walter Staib (below).

For example:

"The closest you could get to today's fast food in Philadelphia would have been cornmeal-fried oysters. They were everywhere.  They are like the Chicken McNuggets of today."

Staib's new book,  A Feast of Freedom, Tasty Tidbits from the City Tavern, may be geared to kids but it's fascinating for adults as well. 

For instance, the book points out that women could go to a fancy ball at the City Tavern in the 18th century -- they just had to hide out to eat.

"They would fix a little plate for themselves and go upstairs, one flight up, to a little room where they would eat.  It wasn't forbidden to eat in public, it just wasn't done."

Gee, that sounds like fun.  Walking up steps in a ball gown while balancing a plate of food.

There is a recipe in the book for cornbread.  Says Staib:

"Cornbread was a big thing.  (Eating corn was) uniquely American."

Bars back then were called "dispensaries" and the drink dispensers were behind bars -- but not the way you think.  

"The dispensary, as it was called, could get rowdy, so they would close the 'bar' -- which was a gate.  And that's where the name 'bar' came from -- barring you from coming in."

The City Tavern is at 138 South 2nd Street, on the edge of Society Hill.

That's "Positively Philadelphia!"