September 4-6, 2009

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The AJC Decatur Book Festival Presented by DeKalb Medical
King Kong

AJC Decatur Book Festival Presented by DeKalb Medical
to Feature Culinary Stars Nathalie Dupree and Shirley Corriher

Next Food Network Star Hans Rueffert and Tea Expert Lisa Richardson to Speak

August 10, 2009 (Decatur) — The 2009 Atlanta Journal-Constitution Decatur Book Festival Presented by DeKalb Medical (DBF) features a smorgasbord of culinary events, including appearances by a host of award-winning authors and chefs, a Mariachi Brunch and Promenade for parents and kids, a Sunday evening picnic featuring internationally themed cuisine, a pickled okra contest between some of the best chefs in Atlanta, and much more.

The festival will be held Labor Day Weekend, September 4-6.

“We’ve got a truly delectable lineup of culinary stars and events this year,” said DBF Executive Director Daren Wang. “Food has always been an important part of the festival, and this year promises to be one of the most delicious yet.”

Culinary superstar, author, teacher, TV cooking show host, and radio show host Nathalie Dupree will speak Sunday, September 6 at noon as part of the “Shrimp and Grits” program for the festival. She has been featured on Food Network, CNN, The Today Show, Good Morning America, PBS, and CBS This Morning. Dupree has written for the Los Angeles Times, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Traditional Home, Atlanta magazine, and The Washington Post, and has won James Beard Awards for two of her cookbooks. She has served as consultant or spokesperson for Proctor & Gamble, Kraft, Lea & Perrins, General Foods, Publix, Campbell’s Soup, Sam’s Club, Maxwell House, Sport’s Illustrated, and Johnson & Johnson/Merck.

Culinary biochemist, lecturer, teacher, industry consultant, and television personality Shirley Corriher will speak at the festival Saturday at 1 p.m. She won James Beard awards for her first book, CookWise: The Hows and Whys of Successful Cooking, and its successor, BakeWise.

Tea expert extraordinaire Lisa Richardson will speak Saturday at 3 p.m. A contributor to Cooking With Paula Dean, Richardson’s recipes and expertise have been featured in national publications including Brandweek magazine, Diabetes Forecast, and Stars and Stripes newspaper.

“Never trust a skinny chef,” says second runner-up in the Next Food Network Star competition and TV show host Hans Rueffert. Rueffert is the host of Hans Cooks the South, a cooking show that airs on Ellijay’s public television station ETC3, and author of Eat Like There’s No Tomorrow. He will appear at the festival Sunday at 2 p.m.

Judy Schachner, author of the beloved Skippyjon Jones children’s book series about a mischievous sword-fighting Siamese kitten, will host a Mariachi Brunch and Promenade for kids and parents at El Tesoro 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 6. She and a costumed Skippyjon will read from her newest book, Skippyjon Jones: Lost in Spice, at the brunch. $25 tickets for kids include the brunch meal, a signed copy of Skippyjon Jones: Lost in Spice, and a donation to Libros Para Pueblos, an organization that builds free public libraries in Oaxaca, Mexico. Parents and infants can attend for free, but must pay for their brunch if they choose to eat. Schachner’s reading and brunch will be followed by a noon promenade to the Target Children’s Stage, where Schachner will read from and talk about her book at 12:30. Tickets are available at Little Shop of Stories, located on the downtown Decatur Square (133A East Court Square; 404.373.6300).

Sunday evening features a picnic presented by the Southern Foodways Alliance at which attendees will be able to explore the intersection of international cuisines in the South for $10 per plate as they enjoy live music by folk band Sweet AlizAbeth. As with all Decatur Business Alliance Concerts in the Square, everyone is welcome to bring their own picnic or purchase a meal to go from one of Decatur’s many excellent restaurants. The picnic, which begins at 6 p.m. Sunday evening, also boasts a picked okra contest, where some of the best chefs in Atlanta will go head to head as a panel of judges sample their original creations.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Decatur Book Festival Presented by DeKalb Medical is the largest independent book festival in the country and the fourth largest overall. This year, more than 300 authors and tens of thousands of festival goers will crowd the historic downtown Decatur Square to enjoy book signings, author readings, panel discussions, an interactive children’s area, live music, parades, cooking demonstrations, poetry slams, writing workshops, and more. For more information visit www.decaturbookfestival.com.

Interviews available upon request.

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