The Enslaved Chef Who Revolutionized American Cuisine

James Hemmings, born in Virginia in 1765, was the first American to learn classic French cuisine. As an enslaved person, he traveled to France with Thomas Jefferson, where he trained under top chefs and became head chef at Jefferson's residence. Hemmings developed a unique cooking style blending French and American ingredients. Upon returning to the US, he continued to cook for Jefferson, leaving a lasting impact on American cuisine. Hemmings was promised freedom if he trained another enslaved person to cook, which he did before passing away at 36.

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