Two Celebrated Southern Authors Discuss the Common Threads between Food and Family

Food for the Soul author Dr. Monique Y. Wells, joins Oprah Winfrey's chef Art Smith in conversation to discuss food, family, books and careers.

(PRWEB) March 26, 2004 -- Dr. Monique Y. Wells, author of the award-winning cookbook, Food for the Soul, joins Art Smith, celebrity chef and best-selling author of Back to the Table: The Reunion of Food and Family, to discuss food, family, books, and careers, as part of the program series, Conversations with Extraordinary People," which is presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs.

Copies of Food for the Soul will be available for purchase at a book-signing session directly following the conversation. Visit The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs at http://tinyurl.com/ysdfj for additional information.

A veterinary pathologist, Dr. Wells has been living and working in Paris since 1992. Paris may be the Food Capitol of the World," but authentic Soul Food can be pretty hard to find there, so Dr. Wells decided to write a cookbook for African Americans who wanted a taste of home while living abroad. What started out as a simple collection of recipes with a list of markets and American grocers has turned into a book with over 90 recipes, and a real labor of love -- for family, for cooking and for history. In her book, Dr. Wells not only gives us a history on food origins, but she also recounts memories of her childhood with each recipe.

Wednesday, April 28, 2004 at 6 p.m.

Maxims: The Nancy Goldberg International Center
24 East Goethe Street, Chicago, IL 60610 (Two blocks north of Division at State Street)

As transplanted Southerners exploring the common threads between food and family, Dr. Monique Y. Wells (a Texas expatriate) and Art Smith (a Florida native) are kindred spirits. Join these two best-selling cookbook authors in an evening of conversation, discussion and refreshments. Monique Wells in Conversation with Art Smith" is open to the general public. Tickets are $20 and reservations may be made by calling (312) 742-1748 or by e-mailing Allen Nichols at anichols@cityofchicago.org.
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