Nat Geo Debuts “Food: Our Global Kitchen” Exhibit in Time for World Food Day

Just in time for World Food Day Thursday (10/16), the National Geographic Museum welcomes  FOOD: Our Global Kitchen,” a traveling exhibition from the New York’s American Museum of Natural History.  The exhibition explores “Farm to Fork” and the complex and intricate food system that brings us what we eat.

“Anyone who loves food will enjoy this exhibition,” Kathryn Keane, vice president of National Geographic Exhibitions, explains. “It is a fascinating experience for the entire family and will teach you almost everything you ever wanted to know about the history and future of food.”

There will be opportunities to taste seasonal treats in the working kitchen, cook a virtual meal, view rare cooking artifacts, and peek into the dining rooms of famous figures throughout history.  Visitors will experience the intersection of food, nature, culture, health and history — and consider some of the most challenging and fascinating issues of our time.

The National Geographic Museum will join the “farm-to-fork” process through an 18-foot-tall, hydroponic vertical growing system in the exhibition that will grow a variety of herbs to showcase sustainable food-growing techniques and agricultural biodiversity in increasingly urban habitats. Other highlights of “FOOD” include a life-size re-creation of a 16th-century Aztec marketplace, ingredient smelling stations, an interactive cooking table and a look at plates of food enjoyed by famous historical figures including Mahatma Gandhi, Jane Austen and Kublai Khan.

And since all of this food content is bound to make visitors hungry, the exhibit’s test kitchen (presented in partnership with Whole Foods Market) will satisfy both appetites and inquiring minds. Live programming in the kitchen will animate the experience of food and flavor through activities ranging from daily samplings and taste tests to demonstrations of dynamic cooking methods to visits from local farmers, chefs and nutrition experts.

Beyond the kitchen, the National Geographic Museum will be offering a number of public programs tied to the “FOOD” exhibition, like a “Food for Thought” event series featuring such culinary stars as National Geographic Fellow Barton Seaver, James Beard Award winner Ann Cashion, “Hell’s Kitchen” winner Rock Harper and chef José Andrés. The Museum will also host a free Harvest Festival on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“FOOD: Our Global Kitchen” will be on display at the National Geographic Museum until Feb. 22, 2015.