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Wednesday, 8 July 1998

Australia's first ever conference devoted to the history of food and drink will be held at the University of Adelaide from July 8-10.

About 100 delegates from around Australia and overseas are expected to attend the event, which is organised by the university's new Research Centre for the History of Food & Drink.

The conference offers a smorgasbord of papers looking at the many and varied aspects of food and drink, including:

• the history of chocolate
• food, drink and sex
• the role of sugar in shaping Western culture
• South Australia's olive oil and wine industries
• table manners and witchcraft
• drinking songs
• food as represented in art
• changes in Australians' food choices over the years

"Food and drink play major roles in our society and the development of food and drink is entrenched in our history and culture," says the director of the Research Centre and conference convener Dr Lynn Martin.

"This conference brings together a wide range of academics each with a wide range of interests, enabling us to explore the history of food and drink in some detail."

The conference is to be opened by the Patron of the Research Centre, Mr Don Dunstan.

A highlight of the program will be a FREE PUBLIC LECTURE (5.10pm, Wednesday, July 8, Room 102, Napier Building) by Mr André Cointreau, president of Cordon Bleu BV, Paris.