Distinguished Speaker Series: Emmy-Winning Journalist Dalia Colón Takes Audiences on a Journey Through Florida’s Culinary History and Culture

Emmy Award–winning journalist Dalia Colón will present “Telling Florida’s Food Stories” at Williams Hall on November 20, exploring Florida’s culinary history and culture. Sponsored in part by Florida Humanities. Tickets start at $13; VIP experiences include a private reception. Reserve at kwahs.org/dss-food-stories.. (Photo credit: Chip Weiner/Provided by Dalia Colón)

Florida’s history is on the plate! Emmy-winning journalist Dalia Colón presents “Telling Florida’s Food Stories” on November 20 at Williams Hall. Sponsored in part by Florida Humanities. Tickets start at $13, VIP options include a tasting reception. Buy tickets: kwahs.org/dss-food-stories. (Photo credit: Chip Weiner/Provided by Dalia Colón)

November 3, 2025 – (KEY WEST, FL).  The Key West Art & Historical Society invites the community to savor Florida’s rich culinary heritage with Emmy Award–winning multimedia journalist Dalia Colón.  On Thursday, November 20, from 6:00–7:00 p.m. at Williams Hall, Colón will present “Telling Florida’s Food Stories,” an engaging exploration of the state’s past, present, and future told through its foodways.  This Distinguished Speaker Series lecture is a partnership between Florida Humanities and as part of the organization’s “Florida Talks” program.

Dalia Colón is host and executive producer of The Zest podcast for WUSF, and associate producer and co-host of WEDU Arts Plus on Tampa Bay PBS.  Her first cookbook, “The Florida Vegetarian Cookbook,” was published in March 2024.  Colón’s work explores the intersection of food, culture, and community across Florida.

Colón has traveled the state, sampling the diverse flavors and uncovering why Florida is celebrated as the birthplace of fusion cuisine.  Her presentation examines how food reflects Florida’s culture, traditions, and history, from indigenous foodways and the rise and fall of the citrus industry to contemporary sustainability and plant-based innovations.

“Florida’s history is on the plate,” said Dr. Cori Convertito, Curator & Historian for the Society.  “Through food, we discover who we are, where we come from, and the stories that connect our communities. We’re thrilled to welcome Dalia Colón to Key West to share these delicious histories and invite audiences to taste, explore, and reflect on our shared cultural identity.”

Tickets for the Distinguished Speaker Series start at $13 per person, with advance purchase strongly recommended.  Guests can enhance their experience with VIP Balcony Seating, which includes exclusive balcony access during the lecture and entry to a private reception with Colón afterward.  The reception features a tasting of select recipes from her “Florida Vegetarian Cookbook,” prepared by Chef Martha Hubbard of Unity Table.
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Tickets and additional information are available at kwahs.org/dss-food-stories.  For more information, contact Dr. Cori Convertito on 305-295-6616 x507 or [email protected].