Oxford American food events come to New Orleans

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (April 8, 2010) – The Oxford American, the South’s leading literary and cultural magazine, will celebrate the publication of its 2010 Southern Food issue in New Orleans with a special reception and dinner on Friday, April 16, and a symposium at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum on Saturday, April 17.

“We are pleased to bring our unique presentation of Southern culinary culture to New Orleans,” said Warwick Sabin, publisher of The Oxford American. “Our events in New Orleans offer the opportunity to appreciate the best Southern food and writing in a city that has played an important role in defining both.”

The Oxford American premiered its Southern Food issue with events in Charleston in early March, and it held additional events in Atlanta and New York City. (See http://food.oxfordamerican.org for more details.)

The new Southern Food issue is guest edited by The Oxford American’s food columnist, John T. Edge, who also is the director of the Southern Foodways Alliance. Edge is a recent James Beard Award winner and a columnist for The New York Times.

The first Oxford American event on Friday, April 16, is a champagne reception at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art (925 Camp Street) from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., in partnership with the Independent Champagne & Sparkling Wine Invitational. Invited guests will enjoy champagne, caviar, oysters, and a special preview of Give My Poor Heart Ease, an upcoming exhibition featuring the work of William Ferris.

The reception will be immediately followed by a special dinner at Domenica restaurant (123 Baronne Street), at 7:30 p.m. The food will be prepared by Chef Alon Shaya, and the wine will be provided by Republic National Distributing Company. John T. Edge, The OA’s editors and writers, and other special guests also will participate. Tickets for the dinner are strictly limited, and the suggested tax-deductible donation to attend is $500 per person. All proceeds will benefit The Oxford American, which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

On Saturday, April 17th, the Southern Food and Beverage Museum (1 Poydras Street, #169) will feature a symposium about The Oxford American’s 2010 Southern Food issue. The event begins at 1:30 p.m., and it will include talks by John T. Edge, The OA’s editors, and OA contributing writers Lolis Eric Elie, Sara Roahen, Jack Pendarvis. The event is free and open to the public, and it will conclude with a reception at 5 p.m.. For reservations, call (504) 569-0405 or visit southernfood.org.

Details about all of these events are available on a dedicated website at: http://food.oxfordamerican.org.