Culinary writer Crescent Dragonwagon brings her Cornbread Gospels to The Studios of Key West
A deliciously entertaining week of events and workshops is planned at The Studios of Key West, when acclaimed writer Crescent Dragonwagon brings her recipe for writing, cooking, and living to Mile Marker Zero. Author of several novels, a book of poetry, many children’s books, more than a hundred magazine articles, and award-winning culinary memoirs, Dragonwagon will offer a pair of literary workshops as part of The Studios of Key West season.
The first, Fearless Writing, will take place from 6-9 pm, April 9 , and 10am-4pm on April 10 and 11. Her second workshop, Writing Culinary Memoir, will take place on April 12 and 13 from 10am-4 pm each day. Class enrollment is limited, and a few spaces remain for each workshop.
On Tuesday, April 8 at 6 pm, Dragonwagon will take a page our of her most recent book, The Cornbread Gospels. The historic Armory building at 600 White Street will lay out the checkered tablecloths and open its doors for a free community chili tasting and cornbread bake-off, involving a culinary melange prepared by local residents, restaurant, and chefs—with Dragonwagon as the centerpiece.
“Food really does, in so many ways, bring us together,” said Martha Barnes, program coordinator at The Studios. “And we’ve added this event to assemble Crescent’s talents, local foodie culture, and our island’s well-known culinary prowess and creativity.”
Local chef Tim King of Sunny’s Deli, who had been catering the previous month of workshop lunches for The Studios, heard about the event and immediately corralled cornbread contributions from The Restaurant Store/Cole’s Peace Bakery, Blue Heaven, Mr. Z’s, Coral Culinaire, and other island favorites. In addition, creative Key Westers, Carrie Disrud, Lisa Esposito, Martha Barnes, and a few others are planning to bring their chili and cornbread to the table that evening.
“We’ve had such a full season of workshops, collaborations, and experiences,” said Bob Muens, Board Chairman of The Studios of Key West. “We’re grateful to everyone who has helped us realize a sense of community, during our first full season as a non-profit organization, and we hope they’ll join us for a creative feast on April 8.”
At 6:30pm that evening, Dragonwagon will present “Cornbread: Comfort, Conflict, and Continuity,” a lively and passionate presentation that traces the history, emotions and memories associated with what she calls ‘that round skillet of golden bread.’
The author spent more than six years at work on her latest culinary memoir, and says that even she was surprised by the emotional depth revealed by a simple cornbread. The book proceeds from cornbread’s Native American origins, its role in slavery, the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, to modern times. Dragonwagon touches on the distinctions of various cornbreads in social class, its role in defining regionality, its place at the family table, and its future in a world of genetic engineering.
Copies of The Cornbread Gospels are now available at Voltaire Books, The Restaurant Store and at The Studios of Key West. To register for the upcoming workshops by Crescent Dragonwagon, to add your chili and cornbread to the April 8 event, or to learn more about creative opportunities at The Studios of Key West, please contact Martha Barnes at 296-0458.
