LAKE CLEAR – Today’s farm-to-fork has common roots in centuries-old Adirondack cooking traditions. These will be explored at the inaugural History of Adirondack Food Celebration Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Lake Clear Lodge and Retreat.

Join historical culinary “guides” with tasting stations, demonstrations and exhibitors. Other activities include special “History of Beer” workshops, hay rides with Paul Smith’s College and various demos.

Connect with heritage and culinary organizations including Adirondack Museum, Adirondack Harvest, Paul Smith’s College, Historic Saranac Lake, the North Elba-Lake Placid Historical Society and more.

The celebration will explore the history of Adirondack food, with five tasting stations highlighting the five eras of Adirondack food: Native American, Cure Cottage, Pioneer, Grand Hotel and Farm-to-Fork.

Each will include a taste of an era’s food and be manned by a historical “guide” who will share stories, trivia or anecdotes about these culinary periods.

Exhibits will highlight “What Was It Like,” What Did They Use,” and “Common Roots.”

“The Adirondacks have a rich history in food,” said Cathy Hohmeyer, executive chef and co-founder of the History of Adirondack Food Initiative. “From the Native Americans and pioneers to the Cure Cottage days and Grand Hotel era, all have contributed to today’s farm-to-fork cuisine. Its history inspires a diverse story but one that has common roots. The Adirondacks have a deep tradition in serving food for all manners of people and occasions from the early inhabitants and pioneers to those seeking the cure and from the lumbermen to the tourists. We are excited to announce this story.”

The History of Adirondack Food initiative is part of the Lake Clear Lodge’s 130-year celebration as one of the last original Adirondack lodges. The Hohmeyer family teamed up with its own history and leading Adirondack heritage organizations including the Akwesasne Cultural Museum Center, Adirondack Museum, Historic Saranac Lake, Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society and others to help tell this story. Important culinary centers such as Paul Smith’s College, Adirondack Harvest and interested businesses are also part of the celebration.

History, nature and wellness have been identified as key components of a proposed “Adirondack Lakes” cuisine trail connecting Paul Smith’s, Lake Clear, Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake.

This celebration will kick-off a series of upcoming events at the Lake Clear Lodge related to the History of Adirondack Food with history dinners, traditional cooking classes, demonstrations and other heritage activities including lantern-lit sleigh rides with Paul Smith’s College as part of the celebration for 50 years of Hohmeyer family operation of the Lodge, and its 130 year history.

In 2017, the Hohmeyer family with other partners intends to take this story on the road and connect with other Adirondack communities to expand this effort.

Admission for the History of Adirondack Food Celebration is $15 per person. There is limited space. Reserve tickets online at www.LodgeOnLakeClear.com or by calling 518-891-1489.