Cookbooks published as fundraisers by non-profit community organizations have
been a popular American tradition since the Civil War, providing dollars for
charities, civic projects and cultural institutions. I value my collection of
community cookbooks especially, because they provide me with insight into the
local culinary history and traditions of the cities and regions they represent.
For community cookbook fans, the TABASCOreg. Community Cookbook Award winners
for 1995 have been announced. The national winner is The East Hampton
L.V.I.S. Centennial Cookbook (334pp, $21.95) published by the Ladies
Village Improvement Society of East Hampton, Long Island. Proceeds from the
book will be used to maintain trees, parks and historic landmarks in East
Hampton as well as fund scholarships.
The second-prize winner is closer to home; The Artful Table (224pp, $35)
comes from The Dallas Museum of Art League and claims “When some of the best
cooks in Texas entertain their favorite people, this is what they serve.”
The Artful Table is the second cookbook from the DMA and is an elegant
coffee-table-sized volume, illustrated with photos of many of the Museum’s
lovely artworks. Judges commented that the award-winning book “takes community
cookbooks to a new level with its integration of design and theme.” The third
place winner is True Grits — Tall Tales and Recipes from the New South (304pp, $26.95), the second award-winning cookbook published by the Junior
League of Atlanta. It features recipes gathered from chefs, caterers, and home
cooks and essays written by Southern producers, editors, reporters, columnists
and novelists about their Southern food memories and experiences… Credit the
brewers of Guinness Stout with an innovative fundraising idea. On February 23,
beer drinkers from Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon will have the
opportunity to participate in the “Great Guinness Toast.” In Austin and other
cities where the event will be held, Guinness will donate five cents for every
pint of Guinness sold on the evening of the Toast and fifty cents for every
4-pack of Pub Draught Guinness sold February 14-28 to the National Audobon
Society’s Living Oceans Program. Locally, the evening will culminate with the
collective toast led by Guinness brewmaster Matt Murphy to be broadcast by
KLBJ-FM… If you start stirring the roux right now, it might just be ready to
enter the Central Market Gumbo Contest, being held this Saturday, February 17
at the store. Pick up an entry form and a container and then return your
completed masterpiece on Saturday morning before noon. The winners will be
announced at 6:30pm. The prize this year will be a $1,000 shopping spree at
Central Market. Among celebrity judges for the Gumbo Contest are food writers
Kitty Crider ( Austin American-Statesman), The Chronicle‘s Robb
Walsh; chefs Jeff Blank of Hudson’s on the Bend, Charles Mayes of Gilligan’s,
and Zoot’s Stewart Scruggs; restaurateurs Reed Clemons, owner of Granite Cafe,
Bitter End, Mezzaluna, and Hang Town, and Peggy Weiss, owner of Jeffrey’s and
Shoreline.
Sandra and Bill MacIver, owners of California’s Matanzas Creek Vineyards, will
host a Wine Dinner at Jeffrey’s on Tuesday, February 27 at 7pm. The MacIvers
will be pouring their “Cellar Stellar” wines, including the 1988 Matanzas Creek
Sparkling that appears on Jeffrey’s wine list. Executive chef David Garrido
will prepare a four-course menu, the highlight of which will be grilled lamb
loin with lavender pecan sauce and dry cherry couscous. Price for the dinner is
$75 per person and reservations can be made by calling 477-5584.
This article appears in February 16 • 1996 and February 16 • 1996 (Cover).