Herbalist Liz Beamon prepares a reinterpreted version of Mary Randolph’s French onion soup from the Virginia Housewife Cookbook using foraged mushrooms and the teachings of her mentor, Dr. Leni Sorenson. Beamon is a 2024–2025 Virginia Folklife Apprentice, awarded by the Virginia Folklife Program, learning traditional Virginia foodways from Sorenson.

This event will happen in-person, live on the National Mall, during the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on July 2-7, 2025. It will be livestreamed for online audiences and remain archived on our YouTube channel and website.