Eat & Read: Library Offers New Discussion Series

The Farmington Library will offer a new series, starting tonight and running through the end of July. The lecture series is called Chefs and Books and will feature a variety of food experts, their books and yummy samples. Each talk will begin at 7 p.m. at the Farmington Library and is sponsored by The Friends of the Farmington Library.

Tuesday June 14, 2011    
Chefs & Books - Emily Brooks - Author of 'Connecticut Farmer & Feast'     

"Connecticut Farmer & Feast; Harvesting Local Bounty" is the title of author, Emily Brooks's presentation.

Emily Brooks is the revolutionary new face of the local food and sustainable agriculture movements. Founder of Edibles Advocate Alliance, Emily nurtures social entrepreneurs who support local agriculture, sustainable farming, and sustainable food systems, and passionately believes in changing the social norm towards agricultural sustainability and development through education and coalition building. She is the author of Connecticut FARMER & FEAST, the creator of Buy Local Connecticut, the Advisor forGreenTown's Sustainable Food Initiative, and is a regular "local food & sustainability expert" on NPR.

Connecticut FARMER & FEAST is a revolutionary new cookbook by Emily Brooks that will introduce readers to Connecticut's agricultural bounty and those passionate individuals - Connecticut's farmers and producers - who toil endlessly to bring us our food.

Meet more than 40 of Connecticut's devoted farmers and producers who proudly produce Connecticut's "locally grown" produce, meats, cheeses, and other food items featured in farm stands, farm markets, and top restaurants throughout the Nutmeg State.

Emily Brooks will help consumers to learn where their food comes from, eat healthier, and support the farmers and producers in their communities. Published in 2011 by Globe Pequot Press. Register at the Adult Desk.
           
Tuesday June 21, 2011   
Chefs & Books - Leticia Schwartz - Author of 'The Brazilian Kitchen'     

"Brazilian Cooking" is the title of author, Leticia Moreinos Schwartz's presentation.

Teacher and cookbook author Leticia Moreinos Schwartz has built a career on the passion for her native Brazilian cuisine. Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Leticia's passion for food began at a very early age.

She moved to New York in 1997, and enrolled and the French Culinary Institute where she graduated with degrees in both Culinary and Pastry Arts. She continued her training cooking at legendary New York restaurants such as Le Cirque 2000, La Grenouille, La Caravelle and Payard Patisserie and Bistro.

Marriage and kids brought on a move to the suburbs of CT, where she created "Chef Leticia", a boutique culinary company offering a wide range of services, from cooking classes to food writing to recipe development to food styling. It's all about the love of cooking - for pleasure, and for a living.

Her first cookbook The Brazilian Kitchen: 100 Classic and Contemporary Recipes for the Home Cook was published in February 2010 by Kyle Books and quickly became the number one reference on the subject.
            
Wednesday June 29, 2011
Chefs & Books - John Barricelli - Author of 'The SoNo Baking Company Cookbook'

"Baking" is the title of author, John Barricelli's presentation.

John Barricelli, author of the SoNo Baking Company Cookbook and owner of the SoNo Baking Company & Café’ in South Norwalk.

A third generation baker, John graduated from the Culi- nary Institute of America and worked at River Café, Le Bernardin, and the Four Seasons Restaurant. He then owned and ran Cousin John’s Café and Bakery in Brook- lyn for ten years.

John worked at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, becoming a featured chef onE veryd ay Food, and in 2008 he became host of the spin-off, Every- day Baking. In 2005, John opened the SoNo Baking Company & Café in South Norwalk.

Register at the Adult Desk.
            
Tuesday July 19, 2011   
Chefs & Books - Pam Anderson - Author of 'Perfect One-Dish Dinners'     

"Stop Entertaining! Stress-free Strategies for Having People Over" is the title of author, Pam Anderson's presentation.

Along with her two daughters, Pam Anderson is a weekly food blogger at threemanycooks.com. They are weekly food columnists at USA Weekend Magazine. Pam contributes to Fine Cooking and Runner’s World magazine.

Pam is the author of six books –New York Times bestseller and IACP award nominee, The Perfect Recipe for Losing Weight and Eating Great, Julia Child award winning, The Perfect Recipe, and James Beard Award nominees, How To Cook Without a Book and Perfect Recipes for Having People Over, as well as CookSmart. Her latest—also a New York Times best seller—is Perfect One-Dish Dinners, All You Need For Easy Get-Togethers. Her upcoming book, Cook Without a Book Meatless Meals is out fall 2011.

Pam is former Executive Editor of Cook’s Illustrated magazine. Her food articles have appeared in many food magazines. She teaches cooking classes across the country and appears frequently on TV and radio.
     
Wednesday July 27, 2011
Chefs & Books - Metro Bis - 'Summer Harvest' 

"Summer Harvest" is the theme of chef, Christopher Prosperi's presentation.

Christopher Prosperi is chef owner of Metro Bis restaurant in Simsbury, Connecticut, a Hartford Courant recipe columnist, an international cooking teacher from Mexico to Italy, a weekly chef on NBC 30, and weekly co-host on "The Faith Middleton Show: The Food Schmooze" on WNPR. The New York Times declares “…Prosperi is a technical master, an original American chef whose restaurant is worth traveling for” and the Zagat Survey has ranked Metro Bis in the top five in the state for American food.