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The
kitchen is where most of the food in the fort was prepared. The room's
hearth is original, and made from uncut pieces of limestone. Scattered
on the floor are dutch ovens, an iron ladle, a tin reflector oven, crockery,
and more.
Imagine
the smells that visitors to the old fort would have noticed; cottonwood
smoke, spices, grease drippings, cooking meat and bread, or perhaps the
rank odor of spoiled meat or rotting foodstuffs. One can only guess at
the rush required to feed several dozen hungry men. Amidst flying towels,
steam, and clanging pots, one could find the cooks, hurried in their preparations,
but not wanting to disappoint the fort's gentlemen with a poorly prepared
meal.
The
most famous cook at the fort was Charlotte Green, whose cooking, it had
been said, "was celebrated from Long's Peak to the Cumbres Espanoles".
Duck, wild turkey,
pronghorn, deer, elk, and buffalo were served, along with cattle, sheep,
and chicken. Other foods that were there include flour, dried fruit, cheese,
rice, beans, almonds, raisins, bacon, pork, as well as coffee, tea, sugar,
salt, molasses, and alcoholic drinks. Local efforts at irrigation crops
were supplemented by agricultural produce from New Mexico such as chilies,
pumpkin, beans, onions, and corn.
Continue
the tour or go back to first floor map.
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