Museum of Food and Drink facts for kids
The Museum of Food and Drink (MOFAD) is a special place in New York City. It's an educational museum that wants to change how people think about what they eat and drink. MOFAD explores how food and drinks affect our culture, history, and even how we live every day. It's a non-profit organization, which means it uses its money to help people learn, not to make a profit.
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Discovering MOFAD's Story
The Museum of Food and Drink started as an idea in 2005. It was founded by Dave Arnold. For a few years, it was just a plan. Then, in 2011, things started to happen.
Bringing Ideas to Life
In 2013, Dave Arnold and Peter Kim, who was the museum's director, used a website called Kickstarter. They asked people to donate money to help them create the museum's first exhibit. They successfully raised over $100,000!
The First Big Exhibit
Thanks to the donations, MOFAD's first exhibit opened in New York in August 2013. It featured a huge, 3,200-pound machine called a "puff gun." This machine is used to make puffed cereals, like the ones you might eat for breakfast! This cereal-focused exhibit was designed to travel to different places.
Finding a Home: MOFAD Lab
In 2015, a company called Infiniti became a big supporter of MOFAD. Their help allowed the museum to open its first main exhibition space. This space was called MOFAD Lab. It was a large gallery, about 5,000 square feet, located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
New Exhibits and Locations
Before the COVID-19 pandemic caused museums to close, MOFAD announced an exciting new exhibit. It was called "African/American: Making the Nation's Table." This exhibit explored the history of African American food and its impact on the country. It was shown at the Africa Center in Harlem, NYC.
Even when the museum was closed, MOFAD offered online programs. The "African/American" exhibit finally opened in February 2022. It even included a special part of the Ebony Test Kitchen.
In February 2024, MOFAD opened its doors again at a brand new spot! This new home is in the Empire Stores building in the DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn.
Exploring Flavor: A New Adventure
MOFAD's first exhibit at its new location is called "Flavor: The World to your Brain." This is an interactive exhibit where you can use your senses to explore flavor. It looks at how we experience taste, how the flavor industry works, and what "natural" and "artificial" flavors really mean. It's a fun way to learn about one of our most important senses!
Gallery
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Chow, an exhibit at MOFAD Lab in 2018
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Tasting bar
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Guests at the exhibit
