Liberty Lane Catering has proudly called the Seacoast home for nearly two decades, and we love making classic New England recipes. Maybe some of the dishes we still cook today were eaten by the early Puritan settlers at nearby Strawbery Banke, or by the Native Americans before them.

Our region has rich history, including these fun food facts:

1. Birthplace of the North American potato?

Did you know potatoes originated in the Andes Mountains of South America? They had to sail across the Atlantic to Europe and back before landing in the rocky soil of New England. In 1791, the first potato in the United States may have been planted in what is now Londonderry, New Hampshire. When the town of Londonderry was incorporated in 1772, its charter called for a yearly payment to the governor: one peck of potatoes.

2. What Began as a Family Picnic…

We know that food is about more than sustenance; a meal brings people together. In 1879, the Symonds family held a picnic in Hancock, NH. Over the years, this event grew so large that it became the Hancock Town Picnic. In 1899, Governor Frank Rollins made this Old Home Day, inviting former residents and NH descendants to return for statewide celebrations.

3. Election Day Cake

Early New England Puritans didn’t celebrate Christmas or Easter, but on Election Day (or the day in May when the votes were finally tallied) they had parades, parties, and religious ceremonies. Election Day Cake, a variant of English fruitcake, was a popular dish in Connecticut as early as 1771. These cakes were served to visitors, sold at the polls, paid for by the General Assembly, or even given by politicians in exchange for voting a straight party ticket.

4. Clam (or quahog) Chowder

This is a New England classic. There’s even a whole chapter of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick devoted to clam chowder! You may know clams as“quahogs,” which comesfrom the Narragansett Indian word “poquauhock.” The scientific name, mercenaria, is from the Latin for “wages” because Native Americans used clam shells as money or “wampum.” …Do you like your chowder with or without tomatoes? This may be an indication of where you live.

These facts might be fun to talk about at your next party! If you want food to go with those conversations, give us a call. Liberty Lane Catering can cater to your every need—classic or contemporary!