Food, drink writers ditch the kitchen for literary lectures

Attention, lit-loving foodies.

If you enjoyed exploring the state's 500-year affinity for eats like sofkee and prickly pears in author Joy Sheffield Harris' A Culinary History of Florida, which CL covered in the Books Issue, don't miss her appearance at the St. Petersburg Museum of History from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday.

As part of the museum's Happy Hour with the Historian series, Harris will discuss Floridian food history, highlighting topics like the state's signature orange nectar and where the first Thanksgiving meal was really held.

Admission to the event is a $5 suggested donation, and you'll get to tour the museum exhibits after Harris' presentation.

At 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, author Tim Federle, who wrote the funky cocktail guides Tequila Mockingbird and Hickory, Daiquiri, Dock, will be at Inkwood Books in Tampa to showcase his works.

Tequila features beverage creations with literary spins, including "Are You There God? It's Me, Margarita" and "Huckleberry Sin."

There are also a drinking games and recipes for small bites like "The Deviled Egg Wears Prada."

And with drinks such as "Bloody Mary, Quite Contrary," Hickory is Federle's compilation of libations inspired by nursery rhymes.

The event, which celebrates the release of Hickory, costs $25 for two people, and comes with a free copy of the book.

This article appears in Dec 25-31, 2014.