Discovering the Flavors of History
Tuesday, August 13th 2024
When Something Small Catering decided to become the in-kind catering sponsor for the 2023-2024 Palladium Renovation Rodeo series, owner Della Thigpen found herself pondering a simple yet profound question: "What did the people who lived here eat?" As a former elementary school teacher and self-taught chef, Thigpen saw an opportunity to elevate the educational aspect of these events through her culinary creations.
Creating a menu has always been Thigpen's favorite part of catering. "I always look for a theme," she explains. For her first Renovation Rodeo at a circa-1907 Eau Claire property, she embraced the food innovations of the era: sliced bread, advancements in refrigeration, and soda. The result was an exciting array of snacks, including cucumber tea sandwiches with butter and jalapeno pesto, ambrosia salad, and Dr. Pepper pulled pork sliders. The historical context behind these choices left a lasting impression on attendees, who raved about both the deliciousness and significance of the food.
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With each subsequent Renovation Rodeo, Thigpen continued to surprise and delight with her inventive menus. At The Vestry in Edgewood, a historic church turned short-term rental property, she crafted a menu inspired by a traditional church potluck. As a former teacher at Carver-Lyon Elementary, she found particular joy in this event, having watched the building's transformation over the years during her commute.
For the mid-century commercial building Rodeo on Millwood Avenue, Thigpen embraced retro favorites while steering clear of less appetizing options like congealed salads. "If I couldn't do the actual food, I looked for ingredients and did a spin off that," she explains. Her creativity shone through, delighting guests with familiar yet fresh takes on mid-century cuisine.
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One of her most challenging menus came from the most recent Wales Garden Rodeo, where the home's research unveiled multiple draft notices from the 1940s. Inspired by wartime rationing, Thigpen crafted a menu that honored that era. "I was sitting there thinking, 'How do you make oatmeal, cornmeal, and potatoes interesting?'" she recalls. The result was a thoughtful and inventive spread that paid homage to history while pleasing modern palates.
To bring her ideas to life, Thigpen relies on research from the Palladium education committee and Historic Columbia, as well as inspiration from blogs and Pinterest. Her dedication to creating meaningful and delicious menus has made Something Small Catering an invaluable—and delectable—part of the Renovation Rodeo series.
As Historic Columbia and Palladium eagerly anticipate the 2024-2025 Renovation Rodeo series, we are excited to see what new culinary delights Della Thigpen and Something Small Catering will bring to the table. Through her unique approach, Thigpen not only feeds our bodies but also nourishes our connection to the rich history of our community.
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About Della Thigpen and Something Small Catering
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Della Thigpen is the owner-operator of Something Small Catering. Along with her partner, Chris Simpson, Something Small Catering specializes in events from six to sixty people. Something Small Catering generously serves as the food sponsor for Palladium's Renovation Rodeos. Learn more about Something Small Catering at somethingsmallcatering.com.
About Renovation Rodeo
Throughout the year, Palladium features properties that have undergone—or are undergoing—an impressive renovation. From tiny 1940s bungalows to turn-of-the-century mansions, and everything in between, these events give you a chance to tour properties, learn about their renovation, and have a great time doing it. And they're FREE for our Palladium members! Visit historiccolumbia.org/renovationrodeo to learn more and read blogs about our past Rodeos.
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Images courtesy of Historic Columbia and Something Small Catering.
Enhance Our City
Palladium
Palladium members don't just learn about Columbia's past - they have a say in its future. Our fundraising events support Historic Columbia's important preservation and advocacy work, which in turn helps preserve the charm and vitality of the city we call home.