The Museum of Ventura County will present “Feast or Flop,” a free online cooking show that combines the world of culinary delights with recipes found in the museum’s archives.

Viewers are invited to join Museum of Ventura County collections manager Renee Tallent as she teams up with regional chefs to recreate vintage dishes and determines if they are worthy of a feast or a culinary flop.

Vintage black-and-white photo of men packing up sacks of lima beans in a processing plant.
Vintage black-and-white photo shows men packing up sacks of lima beans in a processing plant. Credit: Courtesy photo

The first full episode spotlights Tallent as she collaborates with Chef Adam Hart from the Oxnard College Culinary program to take on a recipe for Lima Bean Loaf, a vintage dish with a unique twist.

This first episode is now available for streaming on the Museum of Ventura County’s website.

“This is an exciting adventure that lets us dive into the culinary history of our beautiful county,” Tallent said. “‘Feast or Flop’ is a fusion of gastronomy and history, showcasing the vibrant and diverse flavors that have shaped our community.

“It’s where vintage recipes meet modern chefs and the outcomes will be fascinating.”

In the second episode, Tallent joins Chef Luis Sanchez, owner/chef of Mouthful Eatery in Thousand Oaks, as they test a vintage recipe for Avocado Soup, offering a taste of the past with a modern twist.

The “Feast or Flop” series will feature six episodes, with new installments released every two weeks through November.

Upcoming episodes include Chicken Poached in Champagne, Spanish Liver, Potato Caramel Cake, and Fattigmand Cake, each uncovering a different facet of Ventura County’s culinary heritage.