The annual Reading Between the Wines event is taking a culinary tack this year with two celebrity chefs and cookbook authors, Norman Van Aken and Art Smith.
The event, a fund- and awareness-raiser for the Adult Literacy League, features a walkabout wine tasting with food provided by local restaurants. The 2017 Reading Between the Wines is Wednesday, April 12, at the Orlando Science Center from 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $90 and can be purchased at the Adult Literacy League website.
This is the 10th year for the event, which in the past has invited novelists and other book writers to speak and sign books. This year, Van Aken and Smith will participate in a discussion moderated by local author Bob Morris.
Van Aken is the author of five cookbooks and a memoir. He is a nationally recognized chef and a James Beard Foundation award winner and has been named to its list of Who’s Who in American Food and Beverage. He has two local restaurants, Norman’s at the Ritz-Carlton and 1921 by Norman Van Aken in Mount Dora.
Smith also has a local restaurant, Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’, but is best known as the former personal chef to Oprah Winfrey. He is a two time James Beard Award winner and the author of four cookbooks.
The Adult Literacy League helps adults 18 and older gain employment and economic self-sufficiency through one-on-one tutoring and classes in reading, writing, math, computer skills and other key studies.
It’s a fun and worthwhile event. And both of the chef/authors should have some good stories to tell.
Food will be provided by Swine & Sons; 4Rivers Smokehouse and The Coop; Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant of Disney Springs; Carmel Café; Fiorenzo Italian Steakhouse at Hyatt Regency Orlando; The Palm and Olde Hearth Bread Co. Art Smith’s Homecomin’ Florida Kitchen at Disney Springs and 1921 by Norman Van Aken will also be offering signature dishes to sample.
