400+ FOOD FOCUS HIGHLIGHT IS A ROGER CONANT DESCENDANT! (SUMMER 2026)

 



A Gastro 400+ event is among the attractions on offer from 11 to 22 June in the city that Roger Conant founded. And who better to attend as a special guest than a 13th generational direct descendant of the great man himself! Celebrity chef Scott Conant will be visiting Salem on June 13 to headline an exclusive live event. 

Salem’s history is being explored through the lens of food, fishing, farming, trade, and community. Events will include a special exhibit, curated talks, open houses at historic museums, a delicious restaurant happening, a film event, and a memorable evening on Saturday 13 June as the City of Peace warmly welcomes award-winning Chef Scott Conant, pictured above.  

Author of the appropriately titled bestselling cookbook Peace Love and Pasta, Scott Conant has been at the forefront of Italian and American dining for almost four decades. Scott Conant recently gained a greater understanding of his ancestor’s role in early American history. 

‘My connection to Salem through Roger Conant is a source of profound pride,’ he said. ‘Only recently have I come to fully appreciate the integral role he played in shaping New England’s early economy and the foundation of colonial life.’ ‘Salem isn’t just a city I’m visiting — it’s where my family’s American story began,’ said Scott Conant. ‘Taking part in this 400th anniversary, in the place Roger Conant first established, is deeply personal. I’m honored to share that connection through food.’ 




Complementing the 400+ food event is this cookbook published by the Salem Chamber of Commerce, consisting of a compilation of recipes from local chefs, bakers, brewers, and celebrities as well as historical context, stories, and snippets of Salem history.   

You can find further details of these events, including the evening with Scott Conant, at Food at 400+ - Salem Food Tours

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