(playfully pensive music) - I'm Emily Hack. What did George, I wonder what George Washington eat? - So what did George Washington eat? I think a lotta people
coming to Mount Vernon are surprised by how diverse the foods of the 18th century were. George Washington's got quite a farm here. He's got a thousand head of sheep, he's got cows and many, many hogs. Mrs. Washington served a Virginia ham at dinner every single day. She was very proud of her hams. We also had a fresh vegetable garden and a wide variety of
vegetables were available. She wrote to her niece Fanny Bassett, that vegetables was the best
part of living in the country. Now, 3:00 o'clock dinner
was a four course meal with a wide variety of foods
presented every single day. George Washington wrote to his friends, saying that they could expect
ale and a bit of mutton when they came to Mount Vernon. But he was setting a low expectation, and far exceeding it with
what you found on the table. Mount Vernon is right on the river, it also provided fish, herring and shad, were caught in season. Washington had a particular
fondness for cod. And his step-grandson, George
Washington Parke Custis, mentions, "Washington
ate heartily at dinner "but was not particular in his diet. "With the exception of fish "of which he was excessively fond." So, if you come to Mount
Vernon, come have some fish. - [Narrator] Click the
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