One Simple Thing: What We Ate on the First Fourth
Before the fireworks, there was the feast.
One simple thing I love about summer holidays is how food brings people together—around picnic tables, blankets on the grass, or the grill. We mark time by these meals, made memorable not just by the flavors, but by the company, the laughter, and the shared tradition.
And this tradition isn’t new. In fact, it began with our very first Independence Day—on a warm July day in 1777.
A Celebration of Fire and Feast
The first official celebration of American independence took place in Philadelphia on July 4, 1777, exactly one year after the Declaration was signed. The city erupted in joy:
“The evening was closed with the ringing of bells and at night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks which began and concluded with thirteen rockets.” – The Pennsylvania Evening Post
But it wasn’t just noise and spectacle. There were dinners and toasts—an early sign that gathering over a shared meal was, and would continue to be, central to American celebration.
In taverns and homes across the city, families and neighbors came together. Food was seasonal, local, and deeply traditional—simple dishes like:
Roasted meats and poultry
Buttered corn and garden vegetables
Berry cobblers and fruit preserves
Cold cider, shrubs, and punch
These were meals made from what was fresh, what was shared, and what was gathered by hand or community.
Early Americans were limited by the availability of foods they could grow, hunt, or preserve through methods such as drying, canning, pickling, or salting.
Common ingredients in the colonies included wild game, such as deer, fish and meat from livestock like cows, sheep and pigs. Even if they were not farmers, many colonists kept their own gardens where they could grow corn, oats, beans, wheat, barley, squash and fruit.
🏛️ Presidential Tables and Early Traditions
Later presidents carried the custom forward. Thomas Jefferson, known for his refined palate, hosted July 4th dinners at the President’s House with French-influenced fare and Virginia favorites alike. James and Dolley Madison served strawberry ice cream at their summer events—possibly one of the earliest mentions of ice cream at a presidential celebration.
From the very beginning, it seems our independence has always had a seat at the table.
Founding Fathers:
George Washington preferred seafood, often serving oyster gumbos, salmon mousse, and crabmeat casseroles.
Thomas Jefferson had a preference for French cuisine, often serving French fries and ice cream.
James Hemings, one of Thomas Jefferson’s enslaved workers, is credited with inventing macaroni and cheese in the colonies.
John Adams’ wife, Abigail Adams, often baked a pandowdy, a pie-like dessert without the bottom crust, and Dolley Madison, James Madison’s wife, was known for her afternoon teas and cinnamon teacakes.
💡 One Simple Thing to Remember
You don’t need a perfect tablescape or an elaborate menu to celebrate well. The founders didn’t have matching linens or curated playlists—they had good food, shared freely, and the hope of something enduring.
If you make one thing this week, make it something simple and share it with someone you love. That’s the spirit of the first Fourth.
🍽️ Inspired Recipes to Try
A few modern recipes inspired by the First Fourth of July table:
Cornbread – rustic and timeless
Berry Cobbler or Crisp – sweet, seasonal, and easy
Grilled Chicken – the updated roast of summer
Shrub Drinks or Sparkling Lemonade – a nod to colonial punch bowls
Homemade Ice Cream – a tribute to the Madisons
Quote of the Week
“It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other … forever more.”
— John Adams, July 3, 1776
Want to Set a Historical Table?
Download a printable First Fourth Menu, styled in early American tradition and ready to inspire your celebration.
However you spend your 4th—whether surrounded by a crowd or quietly savoring the day—I hope it’s filled with good food, meaningful company, and a sense of celebration for the freedoms we hold dear.
Here's to simple things, shared well.
With joy,
Stephanie