On Tuesday, August 23rd at 6:00 p.m. central, the LaSalle Public Library will virtually host Author and Food Historian, Cynthia Clampitt, for a presentation that explores southern India.

Throughout most of the history of civilization, people have been seeking ways to get to southern India, because a surprisingly large percentage of the world’s most flavorful spices come from a relatively small area at the tip of the subcontinent. The pursuit of these spices has had a tremendous impact on world events.
However, today, tourists largely ignore the region that was for more than 4,000 years the destination of merchants, armies, dreamers, the Jewish Diaspora, and others. That’s a pity, because southern India is a remarkable destination that is rich in history, stunning beauty, gracious people, wonderful food, and, as one saying tells it, more coconuts than there are stars in the sky.

In this program, Cynthia Clampitt will provide information about the spices that come from this region, the history of the spice trade, the place of southern India in world events, and the delights to be enjoyed by a traveler today.

Cynthia Clampitt is a writer, photographer, and food historian. She is the author of the award-winning travel narrative, Waltzing Australia, which is supported by a blog of the same name. A member of the Society of Women Geographers, as well as of the Culinary Historians of Chicago, Clampitt has pursued her love of culture, nature, history, and food in thirty-seven countries on six continents (so far) and has continued to write books and blog posts to share what she has learned with others.

This program is free and open to all. It will be virtual via Zoom. Register by going to – https://bit.ly/3PxgMnG. For more information, please contact the LaSalle Public Library at 815-223-2341.