BEHIND THE GUMBO: A JOURNEY THROUGH MOBILE’S RICH CULINARY HISTORY WITH CART BLACKWELL

In this installment, we take a deep dive into the heart of Mobile’s food, history, and the iconic Mardi Gras celebrations with none other than Cart Blackwell, the gifted curator of the Mobile Carnival Museum. With his background in architectural history and art history, Cart whisks us away on an enlightening journey that is bound to captivate food and history enthusiasts alike.

Cart Blackwell, a respected historian and captivating storyteller, has dedicated his career to unraveling the tales of Mobile’s past. Despite not being a native Mobilian, Cart has immersed himself into the city’s history, culture, and culinary tradition, making him one of the most knowledgeable Mobilians of today. Born and raised in a historic 7th generation family home in Dallas County, Alabama, his love for history was ignited by his father’s passion for genealogy.

In this engaging episode, Cart shares fascinating stories about his own path that eventually led him to Mobile. He recounts his time studying at the College of Charleston and the University of Virginia and how he later served the city of Mobile for nine years before stepping into his current role at the Mobile Carnival Museum. He speaks passionately about the museum’s role in preserving Mobile’s Carnival culture, showcasing how it ties together our diverse regional and international backgrounds.

One of the highlights of this episode is our discussion about the exhibit ‘From Chicken on a Stick to Fancy Fare: Carnival and Cuisine.’ In it, we go chronologically through Mobile’s food history, starting with Native American life hundreds of years ago. Cart then expertly navigates through Mobile’s culinary evolution, discussing the influences of the French, British, and Spanish on local cuisine, the development of the city’s first restaurants, and the emergence of the city’s iconic food scene in the 1900s.

Listeners will enjoy learning about the impact of Mobile’s location on its culinary history and how the confluence of various cultures, European and Native American, has shaped the city’s food scene. They will also get a taste of the unique offerings of food during Mardi Gras, a tradition deeply intertwined with the city’s history.

With Cart Blackwell at the helm, our exploration of Mobile’s culinary past is as appetizing as a hot bowl of gumbo on a cool autumn evening. So, get your bowls ready and join us for this hearty serving of Mobile’s history, one delicious story at a time.

Don’t miss out on this mouthwatering episode of the Port City Plate Podcast, now available on iTunes and wherever you get your podcasts.