To me, the most delicious part of the Texas Book Festival (Oct 22 & 23) is its great round-up of food-related talks and sessions and cooking demos. Rather than slog through the full schedule, focus on food with our easy guide. FOOD SESSIONS FOR SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2011 Elizabeth S. D. Engelhardt, A Mess of Greens: Southern Gender & Southern Food 11:15–12:00 in the Capitol Extension Room E2.030 An associate professor of American studies at the University of Texas at Austin, Engelhardt discusses the origins of Southern cooking and their relations to gender, society, and race. Alton Brown, Good Eats 3: The Later Years 11:30–12:15 at the Paramount Theatre The Food Network personality and chef talks about his third Good Eats book, based on his often-hilarious, always-informative TV show. Lisa Fain, The Homesick Texan Cookbook 12:45–1:30 in the Capitol Extension Room E2.036 This Texan turned New York blogger has written a cookbook featuring the classic Texas favorites she missed after her move to the Big Apple. She talks about her experiences in a Q&A with Texas Monthly food editor and writer Pat Sharpe. Gabrielle Hamilton, Blood, Bones, and Butter 3:15–4:00 at the Capitol Auditorium Room E1.004 Chef and New York City restaurateur Gabrielle Hamilton describes how she got into the culinary world (through some “illegal” ways), and details recipes from her restaurant Prune. DEMOS IN THE COOKING TENT FOR SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2011 Hugh Acheson and Martha Hall Foose, New Directions in Southern Cuisine 10:00–11:00 Acheson and Foose will demonstrate an “elevated” take on Southern cuisine from their respective cookbooks A New Turn in the South and A Southerly Course. Louis Lambert, Big Ranch, Big City Cookbook 11:30–12:30 The owner of Lambert’s Downtown Barbecue, in Austin, and Lambert’s Steak, Seafood, and Whiskey, in Fort Worth, will cook from his new Big Ranch, Big City Cookbook: Recipes from Lambert’s Bunkhouse and Urban Kitchens, co-written with June Naylor. (Photo above of Parmesan potato gratin by Ralph Lauer, from cookbook.) Gesine Bullock-Prado, Cooking with Sugar: Confections, Candies, and Cakes 1:00–2:00 Making sweets can be simple! Gesine Bullock-Prado will show you how, using recipes from her book Sugar Baby: Confections, Candies, Cakes & Other Delicious Recipes for Cooking with Sugar. Virginia Willis, Basic to Brilliant, Y’all: 150 Refined Southern Recipes and Ways to Dress Them Up for Company 2:30–3:30 The kitchen director for Martha Stewart Living has released her own cookbook, focusing on technique and presentation to impress your guests. Jordan Kaye, How to Booze: Exquisite Cocktails and Unsound Advice 4:00–5:00 It’s no wonder that writer Jordan Kaye authored a book on booze: he’s also a lawyer. Kaye’s book, co-authored with Marshall Altier, serves up entertaining advice paired with delicious cocktails. FOOD SESSIONS FOR SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2011 Paula Deen, Southern Cooking Bible 10:00–10:45 at the Paramount Theatre Food Network host and butter queen Paula Deen will be demonstrating recipes from her new cookbook, Southern Cooking Bible: The New Classic Guide to Delicious Dishes with More than 300 Recipes. Kathleen Flinn, The Kitchen Counter Cooking School: How a Few Simple Lessons Transformed Nine Culinary Novices into Fearless Home Cooks 11:00–11:45 in the Capitol Extension Room E2.026 Le Cordon Bleu graduate Flinn will tell how she gave nine home cooks confidence and a new skill set. Booklist wrote of her book:  “Flinn winningly offers inspiration to anyone who cares about cooking but lacks basic tools and skills.” Allan Kurzweil, Leon and the Champion Chip: Potato Chip Science! Do fun experiments with spuds. 11:00–12:00 in the Children’s Activity Tent (on Colorado St. between 12th & 13th) Bring your kids to this entertaining class taught by Brown University professor and Leon the Champion Chip author Allan Kurzweil. Ellen Sweets, Stirring It Up with Molly Ivins: A Memoir with Recipes 2:30–3:15 in the Capitol Extension Room E2.036 Molly Ivins, the feisty Texas political columnist, did more than just stir the pot in the world of politics; she was also a fabulous cook. Her friend and fellow reporter Ellen Sweets wants you to know all about it, and the exciting life Ivins led before her death in 2007. DEMOS IN THE COOKING TENT FOR SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2011 Tyson Cole, Uchi 11:00–12:00 Sushi and Texas are not often associated with each other, but chef and restaurateur Tyson Cole has established two of the best sushi restaurants, Uchi and Uchiko, in the country right here in Austin. Come see Cole demo delicious Japanese rolls. Lynne Rossetto Kasper, Splendid Table’s How To Eat Weekends 12:30–1:30 Public radio show hosts Lynne Rossetto Kasper and Sally Swift want you to take good advantage of your time on weekends to cook whole, wholesome, and well-thought-out meals. Josh Kilmer-Purcell & Brent Ridge, The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Cookbook 2:00–3:00 Heirloom fruits and vegetables have become a food trend in recent years. Authors Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Brent Ridge take you back to New York farmland in1802. Crystal Cook & Sandy Pollock, The Casserole Queens Cookbook: Put Some Lovin’ in Your Oven with 100 Easy One-Dish Recipes 3:30–4:30 Casseroles are making a comeback, for their convenience and comfort. Crystal Cook and Sandy Pollock will show off easy meals from their cookbook (Photo above of Parmesan Potato Gratin from Big Ranch, Big City Cookbook, published by Ten Speed Press, photography by Ralph Lauer. )