Foods of the Americas: Past, Present and Future

Tuesday, April 18, 2023 - 5:30pm

Marlene and Fernando Divina will explore the ancient foods and foodways that we continue to incorporate into our daily meals, and how we can improve and build upon this lifeway.

Fernando Divina is a certified food industry consultant, health and culinary veteran that has created and operated several acclaimed hospitality, food and beverage businesses in the Western United States. Marlene Divina is an award-winning restaurateur and is a member of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa of Montana and is also of Cree and Assiniboine descent. Together they own divinAmerica, which, since 1989, has provided  consulting services and menu development for a wide array of clients--most notably the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. The Divinas' articles and photography have appeared in such publications as The Oregonian, Northwest Indian Magazine and Arizona Food and Lifestyles Magazine. Of their list of publications, their book, "Foods of the Americas: Native Recipes and Traditions" (Ten Speed Pr., 2004), produced in association with the Museum, received the James Beard Award of Excellence.

Gourmet Magazine's America's Top Tables, Oregonian Restaurant of the year among the many international accolades. Recently, the Divinas were honored with the 2022 Slow Food USA Snailblazer award in recognition of their longstanding and continued work and advocacy for good, fair and clean foodway practices here and around the world.

The Divinas live and work with the people and the rich alluvial soils of the Eastern Steppe of the Cascadia Region in Central Washington state. Their most recent work in association with Oregon Health Science University  Center for Preventive Cardiology, The Heart Protection Kitchen: Easy and Healthy Recipes for a Happy Heart where they were principles in the development of course curriculum that they taught at various OHSU and partner university locations and contributed mightily to the companion recipes used in classes and for the published cookbook. Their website is: https://www.divinamerica.com/.  

Location
Lake Oswego Public Library
706 4th St
Lake Oswego, OR 97034