Vishwesh Bhatt's I am From Here

2727 Prytania Street,New Orleans LA 70130

01 September, 2022

Description

The Chicory House is thrilled to announce it will host 2019 James Beard ‘Best Chef: South’ winner Vishwesh Bhatt September 1 for a festive and flavorful evening celebrating his new cookbook I am From Here: Stories and Recipes from a Southern Chef. In his cookbook, Bhatt intertwines dishes from the American South with international foodways, including those of his native India, to create dishes that still seem familiar but feature new flavors. Bhatt’s recipes highlight an evolving American South. Peanut Masala–Stuffed Baby Eggplant alongside fried okra, tossed in tangy chaat masala. Collard-Wrapped Catfish with a spicy Peanut Pesto. These much-loved dishes are stars on the menu at Snackbar in Oxford, Mississippi, where Bhatt has been the executive chef since 2009, earning him Best Chef: South (2019 James Beard Awards) and induction into the Fellowship of Southern Farmers, Artisans, and Chefs in 2022. I Am From Here organizes 130 recipes by ingredient, emphasizing staples, spices, and vegetables that are as beloved on the Indian subcontinent as they are in the American South. Summer means okra, tomatoes, corn, and peas. Winter brings sweet potatoes and greens: mustards, collards, kale, and spinach. Rice is a constant throughout. Recipes run the gamut from uncomplicated roast chicken and Citrus-Herb Rice Salad to dinner party–worthy Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Tandoori Spices. The evening will kick off at 6:00 PM with a cocktail reception featuring spirits from Cathead Vodka and Wonderbird Gin. Small plates will be made by Chicory House head chef, Martha Gilreath, inspired by Bhatt’s I am From Here. Bhatt will then be in conversation with friend and accomplished author Micheline Maynard. The two will chat through the cookbook, the foodways of the American South and Bhatt’s culinary journey. Afterwards, Bhatt will be available to sign copies of his book and guests are invited to continue mingling. Entrance to the event requires purchase of a ticket through Eventbrite. To attend the event, guests can purchase a $25 ticket that includes food, beverage, and Eventbrite fees. For best value, guests can purchase a book ticket, which is available for $50 ($37.50 book retail value, food and beverage, and Eventbrite fees.) Couples book tickets are also available for $70 and include entrance for two and one copy of the cookbook. For more information, visit us at www.gardendistrictbookshop.com. All citywide-mandated COVID safety protocols will be in place. VIshwesh Bhatt 2019 Southern Living’s Southerner of the Year and 2019 James Beard Foundation Best Chef South, Vishwesh Bhatt has been a part of Chef John Currence’s City Grocery Restaurant Group since 1997. Vishwesh started as a prep cook at City Grocery and worked his way up to Executive Chef at Snackbar, which opened in 2009. At Snackbar, using his years of culinary experience and exposure to worldwide cultures, he has developed a menu that intertwines both Southern and subcontinental foodways. In January 2022, Vishwesh was inducted into the Fellowship of Southern Farmers, Artisans and Chefs. He and his wife live in Oxford, MS with their cat Bitbit and Bob the dog. Micheline Maynard Micheline Maynard is a contributing columnist at the Washington Post. She has been a senior editor at NPR’s Here & Now and was a senior correspondent and Detroit bureau chief for the New York Times. She also writes for The Takeout, Medium, and the Ann Arbor Observer. She is the author of six books, including The End of Detroit: How the Big Three Lost Their Grip on the American Car Market. Her latest book, Satisfaction Guaranteed: How Zingerman’s Built a Corner Deli Into a Global Food Community, was published by Charles Scribner’s Sons in February, 2022 to much acclaim.