DiscoverOnce Upon A Time In Black HistoryPantry of the Past: The Hidden Life of Hercules Posey, America’s First White House Chef
Pantry of the Past: The Hidden Life of Hercules Posey, America’s First White House Chef

Pantry of the Past: The Hidden Life of Hercules Posey, America’s First White House Chef

Update: 2025-05-19
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In today’s episode, we’re opening the Pantry of the Past to spotlight Hercules Posey, the first known White House chef. Enslaved by George Washington but celebrated for his culinary brilliance, Hercules wasn’t just a cook—he was a man of impeccable skill, style, and quiet resistance.


From commanding the president’s kitchen in Philadelphia to making a bold escape for freedom, Hercules’ story is as complex as it is courageous. Join us as we explore the life of a man who helped shape America’s earliest presidential dinners—while living in the shadow of bondage.


 

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Pantry of the Past: The Hidden Life of Hercules Posey, America’s First White House Chef

Pantry of the Past: The Hidden Life of Hercules Posey, America’s First White House Chef

Tamara Shiloh