Birmingham Public Library to Highlight Birmingham Restaurants in New Book: Birmingham's Best Bites

The Birmingham Public Library will present its annual Eat Drink Read Write Festival, a combination of literacy, food, and drink, on October 3-10, 2014. During that week, recipes for the dishes we've come to love will be revealed in a new book that will be called Birmingham's Best Bites.

The library is currently accepting restaurant nominations for the book. The deadline to enter is July 1, 2014. The book will be available for sale during the Eat Drink Read Write Festival and will be the main highlight on the finale night, also known as Birmingham’s Best Bites. Restaurants should send their name, recipe, and contact info to bhambestbites@gmail.com by July 1. Food Network Star finalist Martie Duncan of www.martieknowsparties.com and Connie Blalock, a Birmingham Originals board member, are helping to produce the book. Birmingham photographer Arden Ward Upton will photograph the food.

Recipes may cover anything from an entree, sandwich or appetizer, to a dessert, drink, or side dish.

"Birmingham has always been known for its food. We are now getting the national recognition that we deserve,'' Duncan said. "This book will spotlight recipes from some of our landmark restaurants as well as emerging ones. Birmingham has some of the best food to offer. This book will capture that.''

Already, Chef Frank Stitt and his wife Pardis; the Dreamcakes food truck; Satterfield's; Rogue Tavern; Ocean; Twenty Six, Maki Fresh, Kathy Mezrano with the Gardens Cafe at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, and several others are submitting recipes for the book. The Stitts were involved in the inaugural Eat Drink Read Write Festival in 2011. The book will be a library fundraiser.

All EDRW events will be free in October. Advance registration will be required for some events. For a list of EDRW 2014 events, please visit www.bplonline.org/eatdrinkfest.