Food Nutrition Expo and Conference (FNCE®) in Washington, DC - Food, Special Events & Tour - Part 1

I could not leave FNCE ® without talking about the food, special events and the ultimate tour that I did while there in Washington, DC!

First is the chance to do the tour at the National Museum of African American History and Culture and I made it on time for the one o'clock tour. The line was very long but it was worth it. Once I got in there I was so hungry but I did not want to start on the tour being hungry. So I decided to eat at the Sweet Home Café which was in the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The Sweet Home Café is managed as a joint venture by Thompson Hospitality and Restaurant Associates, with celebrity chef Carla Hall as the culinary ambassador. It showcases the rich culture and history of the African American people with traditional, authentic offerings as well as present-day food traditions. Executive Chef Jerome Grant of Sweet Home Café uses the very best version of classic dishes and employs a high degree of from-scratch cooking with locally-sourced ingredients. Four distinct stations each tell the story of the regional offerings. The cuisine station that I chose was the Western Range and after the Civil War, many African Americans sought new opportunities in the West. The cuisine was strongly influenced by Native American and Mexican culture. Familiar ingredients such as corn, peaches, turkey and squashes took on new flavors by the addition of chilies, wild sage and Mexican oregano. The dish I ate was Pan Roast Rainbow Trout, Cornbread & Mustard Green Stuffing, Hazelnut Brown Butter along with Cornbread and Lemon Pound Cake.

YUMMY!

After eating, I decide to start going on the tour at National Museum of African American History and Culture in order to learn more my proud African American heritage and to burn all of these calories off. To date, the Museum has collected more than 36,000 artifacts and nearly 100,000 individuals have become members. When I came into the building I was in shock at how big it was inside and how many levels of artifacts there where. I first started at the huge water fountain called the Contemplative Court, a water- and light-filled memorial area that offers visitors a quiet space for reflection.

After leaving the Contemplative Court, I went to History Galleries and was overwhelm with alot of the history that I thought I knew and what I did not know. Some of the tour sections that I thought was incredible was the slave cabin in the Slavery and Freedom (1400-1877) exhibit.

In the Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation 1876-1968 - exhibition shows the end of Reconstruction to show how the nation struggled to define the status of African Americans. The most interesting part of the exhibit is the Southern Railway No. 1200 - railroad passenger car from the "Jim Crow" era.

In the exhibit - A Changing America: 1968 and Beyond explores contemporary black life through stories about the social, economic, political, and cultural experiences of African Americans. From the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. to the second election of Barack Obama, the coverage is broad. I truly loved the Hip Hop exhibit particularly about the Boogie Down Bronx edition!

There were so many other things that I was unable to see, but I will have to come back to finish the exhibits at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.