During the month of August, the Athens-Clarke County Library will host a weekly program on Thursdays at 6 p.m. dedicated to exploring the link between food and human connection. The series, titled “Bon Appetit Meets Athens Flavor,” will feature local chefs doing live demonstrations, published cookbook authors, and a historical reenactment of famous French TV Chef, Julia Child.
On August 3 there will be a Community Cookbook Panel that highlights the role cookbooks play in communities. The discussion will be led by Valerie J. Frey, an archivist and local author who most recently published the book, Preserving Family Recipes: How to Save and Celebrate Your Food Tradition. Representatives from the Sisterhood of the Congregation Children of Israel will also be speaking, and patrons are encouraged to see the library’s Laura Billups McCray Community Cookbook collection during Heritage Room hours.
Join the library on August 10 to welcome Kelly Codling, owner of Kelly’s Authentic Jamaican Food. The locally renowned chef will be offering insights into his recipes and tips on how to create authentic Jamaican dishes. Hear him talk about his book, True Believer: The Journey of Kelly Codling, and his journey from Jamaica to Athens.
The legendary Dexter Weaver, owner of Weaver D’s Delicious Fine Foods, will be at the Athens-Clarke County Library on August 17 to do a demonstration of his famous squash casserole, featured in Southern Living. An Athens staple, and internationally known as the restaurant that inspired the name of R.E.M.’s eighth album, Automatic for the People, audience members will have a unique opportunity to gain insight into the methods of good, southern cooking by Weaver
On August 24, the library will host Rebecca Lang, food writer, cooking instructor, television personality and Athens resident. Join Lang and learn to take advantage of the end-of-summer local harvest to create two quintessential Southern appetizers, Heirloom Tomato Sandwich Bites and famed Pickled Okra and Ham Wheels. Author of eight published cookbooks, Lang has appeared as a judge for Chopped Junior on Food Network, and has been featured in many magazines and newspapers, including The Wall Street Journal, Southern Living, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Washington Post.
The final event in the series is a “Living History Portrayal” of Julia Child by Leslie Goddard on August 31. Goddard holds a Ph.D. from Northwestern University specializing in American studies and U.S. history, as well as a master’s degree in theater. She is an award winning actress who will bring the iconic French Chef to life in this portrayal, where Child discusses everything from her husband, Paul Child, to the mishaps on cooking on television.
This series was made possible in part by support from Georgia Humanities, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, through funding from the Georgia General Assembly. All events are free and open to the public. Call the library at 706-613-3650 or visit athenslibrary.org for more information.