Journalist and cookbook author Phil Potempa hosts a new “Thanksgiving From the Farm” cooking show at 3 p.m. Nov. 16, 2025 on stage at The Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road in Munster.
The program, which is the fifth edition presented by Theatre at the Center of this popular and entertaining stage culinary show, stars a seven-course meal of tried and true recipes, each with its own fascinating story twist. The recipes are selected from Potempa’s fourth published cookbook “Back From the Farm: Family Recipes and Memories of a Lifetime” (2019 Pediment Press $34.95). The book was written with the help of Hollywood Hoosier actress Florence Henderson, of TV’s “The Brady Bunch,” before her death in November 2016.
During the show, all recipes are prepared live on stage in less than two hours, with plenty of time for sampling, audience games, prizes, along with lots of surprises to take home.
Potempa’s cooking show series was first launched in May 2010 on the Star Plaza Theatre stage with a Mother’s Day theme. More recently, his previous cooking shows have featured holiday seasonal themes for Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween, Summer Harvest and Christmas.
The all-new Thanksgiving-themed edition of his “From the Farm Cooking Show” serves up the charm and traditions of his family’s farm kitchen he has chronicled for more than two decades in his writings and published books since his “From the Farm” column was unveiled in The Times of Northwest Indiana in April 2002.
Southern deep-fried turkey is the entrée highlight of the seven-course meal Phil will whip up, along with featured seasonal recipes including pumpkin bread, sweet and sour cabbage soup, carrot cake, cheesy cracker spread and drunken cocktail weenies all toasted with a zippy white wine sangria. This two-hour program features more than $1,000 in prizes, games and giveaways.
Potempa is grateful to the late Henderson, who writes about her memories of growing up in Indiana in the foreword of his 2019 cookbook and was kind enough to also share her keepsake hearty family recipes for a special chapter.
Potempa’s show is filled with fun for families and foodies of all ages as he shares stories from his cookbooks in between food preparation on stage during the show.
Tickets for the “Thanksgiving From the Farm Cooking Show” are $35 and are available at the Theatre at the Center’s Box Office at 1040 Ridge Road in Munster or by calling (219) 836-3255 or online at www.TheatreAtTheCenter.com.
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