Daily Loaf

Renowned cookbook author and Mexican cuisine authority Diana Kennedy will be at Seminole Heights’ favorite Mexican food diner — El Taconazo (affectionately known at the Taco Bus) — Friday, February 13. She’ll be signing books at 5:30 and teach a cooking class at 6:30.

I’m a huge fan of Kennedy’s. The first cookbook I ever owned was her The Art of Mexican Cooking, which is due for anew printing this March.

While she’s visiting Tampa she’ll also do a book signing at Inkwood Saturday the 14th and offer a cooking class at the Rolling Pin Kitchen in Brandon on Thursday the 12th. Her schedule is posted below.

Rene Valenzuela, owner and chef of the Taco Bus writes:

“Diana never announces ahead of time what the menu will be. Part of the reason is that she will come and shop for ingredients locally not knowing if they will be good enough for a pre-set menu. The class will be about 2-3 hrs, she will cook 3 or 4 dishes.”

“One of the dishes will probably be a sophisticated, time consuming and difficult mole or adobo. She mentioned her intent to include a fish dish but it’s not for sure.”

Inkwood Books will set up a stand of her books at El Taconazo so you can purchase them in the weeks leading up to her visit, and then have them signed at the Bus.

It’s $75 for the class. For more information, email Rene Valenzuela at DianaKennedyTampa@me.com.

Here’s her schedule while visiting Tampa.

Thursday Feb 12th 6:00 PM cooking class at The Rolling Pin in Brandon
Friday Feb 13th 2:00 book signing at Barnes and Noble South Dale Mabry (Maybe this one, neither store has posted any info yet)
Friday Feb 13th 5:30 book signing at El Taconazo
Friday Feb 13th 6:30 cooking class and book signing at El Taconazo
Saturday Feb 14th 2:00 PM book signing and food sampling at Inkwood Books Tampa

From Rolling Pin Kitchen page -

“Diana Kennedy is an authority in authentic Mexican food, author of a dozen cookbooks and has been decorated with the Order of the Aztec Eagle: the highest honor bestowed on foreigners by the Mexican Government.”

“What she has done for Mexican food in the USA is commonly compared to what Julia Child did for French food and what Marcella Hazan did for the tastes of Italy. She has shown America authentic Mexican food: rich, complex, extensive and fascinating, one of the truly great world cuisines.”

“You will love her food, appreciate her demonstration skills and her vast experiences in the Mexican Culture. Tonight’s Menu: TBD based on what is fresh in the market.”

(Cross-posted at Eating Tampa)

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