Patrick Oconnell
While Thomas Jefferson is often credited with introducing macaroni and cheese to the United States, there is no evidence that he invented the dish. In fact, pasta with cheese had already become popular in France by the time Jefferson travelled there in 1784, and recipes for pasta and cheese combinations date back as far as 160 BCE. It is likely that Jefferson's enslaved chef, James Hemings, learned how to make macaroni and cheese while studying the culinary arts in Paris, and introduced the dish to elite families in the American South.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Did Thomas Jefferson invent macaroni and cheese? | No, he did not invent macaroni and cheese. |
| Who invented macaroni and cheese? | The origins of macaroni and cheese can be traced back to cheese and pasta casseroles in medieval England. However, the earliest mention of pasta and cheese being combined dates back to 160 BCE in Ancient Rome. |
| Who introduced macaroni and cheese to the United States? | It is believed that macaroni and cheese were first introduced to the United States by James Hemings, an enslaved chef of Thomas Jefferson. Hemings learned about it while studying the culinary arts in France. |
| What was Thomas Jefferson's role in the popularity of macaroni and cheese? | Thomas Jefferson is credited with popularizing macaroni and cheese in the United States. He brought macaroni from Europe to the United States and served it to many founding fathers. Jefferson's enslaved chef, James Hemings, was responsible for cooking and introducing the dish to elite families in the American South. |
| Did Thomas Jefferson cook macaroni and cheese? | No, Thomas Jefferson did not cook macaroni and cheese himself. James Hemings was the chef who prepared and served the dish. |
| Did Thomas Jefferson invent the elbow noodle? | While Thomas Jefferson did not invent macaroni and cheese, there are claims that he created the elbow noodle. |
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What You'll Learn
- Thomas Jefferson did not invent mac and cheese
- James Hemings, Jefferson's enslaved chef, introduced mac and cheese to the US
- Mac and cheese was first included in a cookbook in 1769
- Jefferson brought macaroni from Europe to the US
- Jefferson's recipe for macaroni noodles included semolina flour, eggs, and milk
Thomas Jefferson did not invent mac and cheese
While Thomas Jefferson is often credited with introducing macaroni and cheese to the United States, he did not invent the dish.
Macaroni and cheese, or "mac and cheese", is a pasta dish of macaroni covered in cheese sauce, most commonly a cheddar sauce. Its origins trace back to cheese and pasta casseroles in medieval England. A recipe for macaroni and cheese was included in Elizabeth Raffald's 1769 book, "The Experienced English Housekeeper". Raffald's recipe is for a béchamel sauce with cheddar cheese, mixed with macaroni, sprinkled with Parmesan, and baked. The dish also has Italian roots, though it is not considered an Italian dish.
In 1784, Thomas Jefferson travelled to France, where pasta baked with cheese was already a popular dish. Jefferson's enslaved manservant and chef, James Hemings, learned to make the dish while training in French cuisine in Paris. Jefferson financed Hemings' culinary education and also smuggled a pasta machine from Naples so that Hemings could prepare the dish for elite families in the American South.
In 1802, Jefferson served "a pie called macaroni" at a state dinner. The menu was reported by Reverend Manasseh Cutler, who was apparently not fond of the cheesy macaroni casserole. While Jefferson introduced macaroni and cheese to the United States, he did not invent it.
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James Hemings, Jefferson's enslaved chef, introduced mac and cheese to the US
While Thomas Jefferson is often credited with introducing macaroni and cheese to the United States, it was his enslaved chef, James Hemings, who brought the recipe to America. Hemings was a trained chef who accompanied Jefferson to France, where he studied French cuisine and learned to make macaroni and cheese.
Jefferson was fascinated by extruded pasta and, while in Europe, he either saw or read about a pasta-making apparatus. In 1789, he acquired a "mould for making maccaroni" in Naples and had it sent to his mentor in Paris. However, it probably arrived after he had left for the US. Jefferson did not cook and was known to only enter the kitchen to fix the clocks.
James Hemings, on the other hand, was a skilled chef. He spent five years in Paris, where he received culinary training and learned to make macaroni and cheese, among other French dishes. Upon their return to the US in 1789, Hemings and Jefferson settled in Philadelphia, where Hemings worked as a chef.
In 1802, Jefferson served "a pie called macaroni" at a state dinner, which was reported by Reverend Manasseh Cutler. This dish was likely prepared by Hemings, who was an expert in French cuisine and had previously served macaroni and cheese to Jefferson and his guests.
While Jefferson may have popularized macaroni and cheese among the elite families of the American South, it was Hemings who introduced the dish to the United States and perfected the recipe. Hemings was eventually granted his freedom in 1796 after training his brother, Peter, to take his place as Jefferson's chef. Unfortunately, Hemings died of alcohol poisoning before he could assume the role of chef at the White House when Jefferson became president in 1801.
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Mac and cheese was first included in a cookbook in 1769
Mac and cheese, or macaroni and cheese, is a pasta dish of macaroni covered in cheese sauce, most commonly cheddar sauce. Its origins can be traced back to medieval England, where pasta and cheese casseroles were common. The dish was first included in a cookbook in 1769, when Elizabeth Raffald published 'The Experienced English Housekeeper', which included a recipe for a Béchamel sauce with cheddar cheese, mixed with macaroni, sprinkled with Parmesan, and baked until golden.
While Thomas Jefferson is often credited with introducing mac and cheese to the US, this is a myth. Pasta with cheese was already a popular dish in France by the time Jefferson travelled there in 1784, and his enslaved manservant, James Hemings, would have learned how to make it during his culinary training in Paris. Jefferson did, however, bring macaroni back from Europe to the US, and served it to many of the founding fathers.
In 1789, Jefferson and Hemings returned to the US and moved to Philadelphia, where Hemings worked as a chef. Hemings was granted his freedom in 1796, and in 1801, when Jefferson became president, he attempted to contact Hemings and invite him to become the chef at the White House. Unfortunately, Hemings died of alcohol poisoning before negotiations were made.
The first printed recipe for macaroni and cheese appeared in Mary Randolph's 1824 cookbook, 'The Virginia Housewife'. Randolph was a relative of Jefferson's, and her recipe included macaroni, cheese, and butter, layered together and baked in a hot oven.
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Jefferson brought macaroni from Europe to the US
While Thomas Jefferson is often credited with introducing macaroni to the US, this is not entirely accurate. Macaroni and cheese, as we know it today, was invented in England, with obvious Italian roots. It is believed that the dish was first brought to America by James Hemings, an enslaved chef of Thomas Jefferson.
Jefferson did not invent macaroni and cheese, nor did Hemings. However, it is true that Jefferson brought macaroni back from Europe to Monticello and served it to many of America's founding fathers. In 1784, Jefferson travelled to Paris, where he acted as the United States minister to France. It was here that he likely encountered macaroni and cheese, as it had already become a popular dish in France. Jefferson was also interested in extruded pasta and set about acquiring a pasta-making apparatus. In February 1789, William Short wrote to Jefferson that he had procured a "mould for making maccaroni" in Naples, which was forwarded to Jefferson's mentor in Paris.
Hemings, Jefferson's enslaved chef, accompanied him to France and studied culinary arts there. It is likely that Hemings learned how to make macaroni and cheese during this time, and he certainly would have been responsible for cooking it for Jefferson. In 1789, Jefferson and Hemings returned to the US, and Hemings continued to work as a chef in Philadelphia. When Jefferson became president in 1801, he invited Hemings to become the chef at the White House, but Hemings died of alcohol poisoning before negotiations were made.
Jefferson served "a pie called macaroni" at a state dinner in 1802. The menu was reported by Reverend Manasseh Cutler, who was apparently not fond of the dish, describing it as having a "very strong, and not agreeable" taste. The earliest known recipe for macaroni and cheese was included in Mary Randolph's 1824 cookbook, "The Virginia House-Wife". Randolph was a relative of Thomas Jefferson, and her recipe included macaroni, cheese, and butter, layered together and baked in a hot oven.
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Jefferson's recipe for macaroni noodles included semolina flour, eggs, and milk
While Thomas Jefferson is often credited with introducing macaroni and cheese to the US, he did not invent the dish. Pasta with cheese was already a popular dish in France when Jefferson travelled there in 1784.
Jefferson's enslaved manservant, James Hemings, learned to make the dish while in Paris. Hemings was a trained chef and was brought to France by Jefferson to study the culinary arts. Jefferson financed Hemings' lavish crash course in gastronomy.
Jefferson did, however, play a role in popularising macaroni and cheese in the US. He brought macaroni back from Europe to Monticello and served it to many of the founding fathers. In 1802, Jefferson served "a pie called macaroni" at a state dinner. The menu was reported by Reverend Manasseh Cutler, who was apparently not fond of the cheesy macaroni casserole.
Jefferson also had a recipe for macaroni noodles, which included semolina flour, eggs, and milk. This recipe was adapted from the wildly popular 1824 cookbook, The Virginia Housewife, written by Mary Randolph, a relative of Thomas Jefferson. The recipe is as follows:
> 6 eggs. Yolks & whites. 2 wine glasses of milk 2 lb of flour a little salt work them together without water, and very well. Roll it then with a roller to a paper thickness cut it into small pieces which roll again with the hand into long slips, & then cut them to a proper length. Put them into warm water a quarter of an hour. Drain them. Dress them as maccaroni. But if they are intended for soups they are to be put in the soup & not into warm water.
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Frequently asked questions
No, he did not invent macaroni and cheese.
Thomas Jefferson is often credited with introducing macaroni and cheese to the US. However, it was his enslaved chef, James Hemings, who learned to cook it while studying the culinary arts in Paris.
Yes, in 1802, Jefferson served "a pie called macaroni" at a state dinner.
