STANDBY ONLY Barry Glassner: The Gospel of Food: Everything You Think You Know About Food Is Wrong FREE April 17, 2007

Free
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ALOUD
and KCRW 89.9 FM present
Barry Glassner
The Gospel of Food: Everything You Think You Know About Food Is Wrong
In conversation with Evan Kleiman, host of KCRW's Good Food, moderated by food writer Laurie Winer, junk food construction by Lloyd Hamrol
What's your food religion? Are you an Atkins disciple, or do you consider a Big Mac the work of Beelzebub? Whatever your culinary creed, it may not hold under the scrutiny of Glassner, an expert debunker of America's favorite myths.

The author of seven books on contemporary social issues, Barry Glassner is Professor of Sociology at the University of Southern California. His book, The Culture of Fear: Why Americans Are Afraid of the Wrong Things (Basic Books), was a national bestseller.

In his new book, The Gospel of Food (Ecco/HarperCollins, 2007), Glassner argues that by abandoning food fads and mythical beliefs about diet, Americans will eat better and lead happier lives. Glassner's articles and commentaries have appeared in newspapers including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, and the Chronicle of Higher Education, and he has published research studies in the American Sociological Review, American Journal of Psychiatry and other leading journals in the social sciences. He is the recipient of several honors, including an "outstanding book of the year" award from Choice magazine and a visiting fellowship at Oxford University. He is currently the chair of his department at the University of Southern California.

Evan Kleiman, renowned owner and executive chef of one of LA's favorite restaurants, Angeli Caffe, and best-selling author of numerous cookbooks, including Cucina Fresca and Pasta Fresca, has been the host of Good Food on KCRW since 1998. Kleiman brings to Good Food a rich and varied background -- as scholar of Italian cooking and culture, entrepreneur and trend-setter for the popular trattoria concept, avid gardener, and admired teacher and chef -- which has won her the esteem of her culinary colleagues both here and abroad.

Kleiman opened Angeli Caffe, the first of the Angeli Restaurant Group, in December of 1984. Angeli Caffe was designed to serve "simple rustic food in a modern environment," according to Kleiman. Garnering rave reviews, the restaurant's success prompted Kleiman to open Trattoria Angeli in 1987 and Angeli Mare two years later.

In addition to her restaurant and writing pursuits, Kleiman also serves on the Board of Directors of the Hollywood Farmers' Market and on the Board of Overseers of The Chef's Collaborative 2000 -- organizations which are devoted to educating the public on issues of sustainability. She also holds special tastings, teaches at her restaurant and at local schools, and leads travel programs to experience the cuisine of France and Italy.

Laurie Winer began her career writing for magazines and newspapers in New York, including stints as a theater critic for the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, and as an editor at Harper's Bazaar. In 1994 she was named chief drama critic at the Los Angeles Times and served twice on the Pulitzer jury for drama. In 1998 she left the paper to write screenplays and freelance. She was West Coast editor for AARP Magazine and for More magazine and produced public panel discussion for AARP. Her pieces have appeared in Food & Wine, Los Angeles Magazine, Organic Style, People, Connoisseur, Mirabella, New York Woman, Vogue, Redbook, Vanity Fair, Harpers, Town and Country Travel and other publications. She contributes regularly to the L.A. Times food section and Los Angeles magazine.

Lloyd Hamrol is a Los Angeles artist who has produced numerous sculptural site works in public places throughout the United States. He is also an urban tomato farmer and a would-be goatherd.

Official Website: http://www.lfla.org/aloud/calendar/?month=04&year=2007&day=17