American Food in America250 in partnership with GA Humanities

In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, Decatur Book Festival and Georgia Humanities have partnered on this session to honor American food and the landscapes and communities that shape it. In historian Mark A. Johnson’s American Bacon: The History of a Food Phenomenon, he explores the story of bacon through the colonial era, the Civil War, the Progressive Era, and modern fad diets. By following bacon through history, Johnson shows how bacon reflects the cultural values of the United States. In food writer and ninth-generation Southerner Rebecca Lang’s Pimento Cheese: The Southern Spread, she elaborates on the origin story of pimento cheese. Giving readers a taste of the famed spread’s history and versatility, this book also expands the recipe repertoire of pimento cheese lovers. This session is perfect for foodies of all backgrounds. 

Purchase your book from Charis Books & More. When you check-out from that link, please mention that you will need to pick your book up at the event. Books will also be for sale on-site by Charis, and a portion of your purchase will benefit the Decatur Book Festival.

This event is free and open to the public. No tickets are required, and seating is first come, first served. Signing information: Signing time: 3:00 PM

Signing location: Marriott Conference Center

About the Authors

Mark A. Johnson, from Milwaukee, earned a PhD in history from the University of Alabama. Previously, he earned an MA from the University of Maryland and a BA from Purdue University. He currently teaches at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and is the author of An Irresistible History of Alabama Barbecue: From Wood Pit to White Sauce and Rough Tactics: Black Performance in Political Spectacles, 1877–1932. His new book is American Bacon: The History of a Food Phenomenon.

Rebecca Lang is the author of nine cookbooks and has appeared on the Food Network as a judge for Chopped Junior. She has cooked at the James Beard House and has been featured in Parade magazine, Martha Stewart Living, The Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Washington Post, Glamour, and Fitness magazine. A resident of Athens, Georgia, Lang has degrees in journalism from the University of Georgia and in culinary arts from Johnson & Wales University, and she apprenticed with Nathalie Dupree. Her new book is Pimento Cheese: The Southern Spread.

About the Moderator

Cathy Cobbs is an award-winning journalist who has spent more than 30 years covering human interest, government, crime, and dining beats throughout the Southeast. After graduating from the University of Tennessee with a B.S, in journalism, started as a police reporter for the Nashville Banner. She was a feature writer for Nashville Scene and Creative Loafing and has served as managing editor for several publications, including Rough Draft Atlanta. She loves exploring Atlanta’s vast dining scene and is always in pursuit of a good dog story.