Food for Thought at Tucson Book Festival

What’s Cooking at Tucson Festival of Books
March 10 & 11, 2012

Saturday, March 10

10-11:30 a.m. Author Carolyn Niethammer- “Cooking the Wild Southwest: Delicious Recipes for Desert Plants” assisted by Doug Levy, chef/owner Feast Restaurant, Amy Valdés  Schwemm, owner Mano y Metate, member of Desert  Harvesters, and co-editor of “Eat Mesquite,”  moderator

11:30 a.m. -1 p.m- Author Grace Delagado-“Making the Chinese Mexican: Global Migration, Localism, and Exclusion at the US-Mexico Borderlands” assisted by Joyce Jue, San Francisco, author & cooking instructor, Kevin Wong, president,  Tucson Chinese Association, moderator

1:00- 2:30 p.m.- Author Ivy Manning-“The Farm to Table Cookbook assisted by Ryan Clark, executive chef, The Lodge on the Desert, Judith Dvorak, Slow Food Tucson Chapter Leader, moderator

2:30-4 p.m.- Author Alice Medrich- “Chewy Gooey Crispy Crunchy Melt-In-Your-Mouth Cookies” assisted by Kim Macy, pastry chef Miraval Resort, Donna Nordin, former owner/executive chef, Café Terra Cotta, moderator

4-5:30 p.m.- Author Jim Meehan- “The PDT Cocktail Book” owner of PTD, New York City assisted by Ciaran Wiese, beverage manager & mixologist from 47 Scott and Scott & Co., Jennifer English, James Beard Award winner and founder of the  Food & Wine Radio Network, and host of Bottoms Up! radio show,  moderator

Sunday, March 11

10:00-11:30 a.m.- Author Marilyn Noble- “Southwest Comfort Food: Slow and Savory” assisted by Josh Willett, chef de cuisine, Flying V Bar & Grill, Judith Dvorak, Slow Food Tucson chapter leader, moderator

11:30 a.m. -1 p.m.-Author Lois Ellen Frank- “Taco Table” owner/chef  Red Mesa Cuisine, Santa Fe, New Mexico, James Beard Award winner for “Foods of the Southwest Indian Nations”, assisted by  Enrique Alcantar, assistant executive chef, Casino del Sol, Barbara Fairchild, James Beard
Award winner and former editor-in-chief of Bon Appétit, ,noderator

1:00- 2:30 p.m.- Author Evan Goldstein- “Daring Pairing” master sommelier, with panelists Dale Sparks, founder Quench Fine Wines, Laura
Williamson, wommelier, Rick Paz, sommelier & wine manager, Flemings Steakhouse and Janos Wilder, James Beard Award winner, Best Chef Southwest as assistant chef & panelist, Don Luria, culinary committee co-Chair, moderator

Janos Wilder has been nominated for 2012 James Beard Best Chef United States – Good luck Janos!  No other Tucson restaurants or chefs have been nominated this year.

2:30-4:00 p.m.- Author Fany Gerson- “Paletas” & “My Sweet Mexico” assisted by David Maitas, chef, Mosaic Cafe, Wendy Werden, Director of Marketing & Strategic Partnerships Arizona Public Media, moderator

4:00-5:30 p.m.- Nancy Silverton, “The Mozza Cookbook: Recipes from Los Angeles Favorite Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria” assisted by Massimo Tenino, owner/chef Tavalino, Jennifer English, James Beard Award winner and founder of the Food & Wine Radio Network, and host of Bottoms Up! radio show, moderator

If you get famished or want a little nosh while at the Tucson Festival of Books, many enticing food vendors are present to feed your hunger.

If you want to hobnob with the culinary authors, there’s a Slow Food Tucson reception on Saturday, March 10 at The Lodge on the Desert. The cocktail & hors d’oeuvres reception is from 5 to 6:30 p.m. ($35/pp) and dinner begins at 6:45 p.m. ($115/pp all inclusive). The dinner will be prepared by 2011 Copper Chef Ryan Clark, who is also the Executive Chef at Lodge on the Desert.

I ate dinner there recently and everything from the food to the service was first class.

(Festival of Books Photo Credit: Thomas Veneklasen)