Culinary Dream Team

This year's lineup of cookbook authors can best be described as a Texas foodie's dream team. Well-respected Austin and Houston chefs Jesse Griffiths and Hugo Ortega join second-generation Hill Country pitmaster Scott Roberts in presenting meaty first time cookbooks at the festival. We couldn't be prouder of their accomplishments. Bay Area sausage guru Bruce Aidells joins the three Texans in getting to the meat of the matter with his updated compendium on the subject. Globe-trotting photojournalist and cookbook author Naomi Duguid presents a definitive work on the foods of Burma, and Diane Morgan shares a wealth of knowledge about cooking with root vegetables. And for those fascinated with America's Mexican culinary diaspora, Jeffrey Pilcher and Gustavo Arellano will weigh in on taco politics. Food staff members Kate Thornberry, Mick Vann, MM Pack, and Jessi Cape join guest reviewer Jesse Griffiths and me in sharing evaluations of this year's crop of food books, including a couple we reviewed earlier this year: Arellano's Taco USA, and chef Griffith's Afield.