Baltimore’s Lexington Market

Baltimore's Lexington Market is the oldest public market in the United States and is thought to be one of the oldest continuously operating public markets in the world. Since 1782, it has been bringing fresh food and delicious flavors to the community long before "farm to table" was a hot culinary trend.

Discover why a visit caused Ralph Waldo Emerson to proclaim Baltimore "the gastronomic capital of the world"; what motivated one customer to have their ashes strewn on the premises; and why there are catacombs beneath the market.

In this streaming session, Christine Rai explores Lexington Market's history and how it grew and changed along with America, evolving from a collection of wagons in a grassy field to its current state of flux with a new market building under construction. Enjoy hearing the stories behind some of its best-known foods—such as irresistible Berger cookies, Faidley's crab cakes, and Konstant's peanuts—that define the authentic taste of Baltimore.

Rai, an assistant professor at Frederick Community College, is an interdisciplinarian who specializes in food studies, culture, and folklore.

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