New York Times food writer and James Beard Award–winning author Melissa Clark celebrates the release of The Big Book of Dinner, her first new book in over four years.

Doors at 6:00 PM · Welcome and Q&A at 6:30 PM, signing to follow · November 20 · First Light Books

Doors open at 6:00 PM. Come mix and mingle in the store with a snack box made just for the occasion.

At 6:30 PM, Melissa joins us for a short welcome, followed by audience Q&A. For more than two decades, Melissa has helped millions of home cooks make great food without the fuss through her New York Times column, "A Good Appetite." Her new book gathers all of it in one place: 175 recipes, 150 tested variations, and the rules behind them.

Tickets are $60 and include a copy of the book and a snack box. This is a mix-and-mingle evening with limited seating. Signing to follow the Q&A.

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THE BIG BOOK OF DINNER
As one of America's most trusted voices in home cooking, New York Times food writer, multiple James Beard and IACP Award winner, and bestselling author Melissa Clark has spent decades influencing the way millions of people cook. Through her beloved New York Times column, "A Good Appetite," and bestselling books including Dinner in One, Dinner: Changing the Game, and Dinner in French, Clark has inspired home cooks to make vibrant, flavorful food with ease.

Now, with THE BIG BOOK OF DINNER: Recipes and Rules (and How to Break Them), Clark distills decades of cooking and recipe-writing into her most comprehensive cookbook yet, featuring 175 clear, reliable recipes and 150 tested variations. With each recipe, Clark offers a foolproof version, thoroughly tested variations, and practical "rules" that explain which techniques are essential and where there's room to improvise. Clark gives home cooks the confidence to substitute ingredients, adapt to what's in the pantry, and follow inspiration without sacrificing great results.

Throughout the book there are lessons such as on cooking the perfect steak or nailing a braise every time, plenty of vegetables and plant-based dishes, a baker's dozen (and then some) of perfect desserts, and beautiful photographs for every recipe.

Created for everyone from home cooks to seasoned home chefs, and for lifelong Melissa Clark fans to first-time readers, THE BIG BOOK OF DINNER is an indispensable kitchen companion that will inspire a lifetime of intuitive, creative, and most importantly, delicious cooking.

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About the author
Melissa Clark is the New York Times bestselling author of Dinner in One, as well as Dinner: Changing the Game, Dinner in an Instant, Comfort in an Instant, Kid in the Kitchen, and Dinner in French. She is a staff writer for The New York Times Food section, where she writes their daily newsletter and her wildly popular food column, "A Good Appetite." The winner of multiple James Beard and IACP awards, Melissa earned an MFA in writing from Columbia, and her work has been selected for The Best American Food Writing.

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