Dr. Lou Grivetti - "Chocolate: Heritage of the Americas"

Biography: Dr. Louis Grivetti, a food geographer in the UC Davis Department of Nutrition, can talk about a variety of subjects, ranging from the history of chocolate to the Mediterranean foods of 1,800 years ago and how they relate to today. Currently he is working on a book that maps the best cheeses, wines, breads and assorted delicacies throughout the Mediterranean, based on the eight-volume "The Deipnosophists" written by Egyptian author Athenaeus from nearly 2,000 years ago. He is also leading a team effort to develop a comprehensive Web site on the history of chocolate.

Presentation Title: "Chocolate: Heritage of the Americas"

Chocolate was widely used in Central America at the time of initial Spanish contact, and spread globally during the 16th-19th centuries. Archaeological data confirms that chocolate entered North America c. 1000 CE after trade developed between the Anasazi peoples at Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, and Tollon, in Central Mexico. Historical documents place the earliest written mention of chocolate in North America at St. Augustine, Florida, in 1641.  The presentation will consider the introduction of chocolate into California during the Mission Period and will examine chocolate use during the Gold Rush Era. The presentation will conclude with information how chocolate spread throughout Africa, Asia, and Europe.