Cookbooks for gifts, book news, events and more

Looking for cookbooks as gifts this holiday season, here's a few to consider — and don’t worry, there’s more recommendations to come between now and Christmas.

Renaissance Publishing, the folks who bring you Louisiana Life and Acadiana Profile magazines, among others, has published “The Essential Louisiana Seafood Cookbook” with 50 traditional and contemporary recipes by Stanley Dry, who writes the “Kitchen Gourmet” column for Louisiana Life and who is a former senior editor of Food & Wine magazine. The book’s photographs are by Eugenia Uhl, a native New Orleanian whose photographs have been featured in New Orleans Magazine, Southern Accents, Metropolitan Home, GQ Magazine, Essence, Travel & Leisure and Vegetarian Times.

From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, James Beard Award-winning Chef Jeremiah Tower will read from and sign his new book, “Table Manners: How to Behave in the Modern World and Why Bother” at the Southern Food & Beverage Museum in New Orleans. In his newest book, Tower discusses the idea of proper etiquette and offers readers a list of do’s and don’ts for today’s society. Tower's first book, “New American Classics,” won a James Beard Foundation Award in 1986 for “Best American Regional Cookbook.” In 1996, he won the Foundation’s Award for the “Outstanding Chef of the Year.” Museum admission is $10.50 for adults, but those who purchase a book will receive complimentary admission. For more information, visit http://natfab.org/southern-food-and-beverage.

Book news

Lafayette children’s author Alysson Foti Bourque and her new “Alycat Series” by Mascot Publishing was named among the best in family friendly media products and services by the Mom’s Choice Awards. Bourque will sign the first title in the series, “Alycat and the Thursday Dessert Day,” from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. today at the Little Gym of Lafayette, as well as launch an accompanying Alycat plush toy. Alycat dreams of popsicles with ice cream centers on Dessert Day at school in “Alycat and the Thursday Dessert Day.” When they run out of her favorites, the teacher suggests she get one from another box but Alycat refuses, wanting only the ice cream ones. By the end of the day, she learns to experiment and discovers how to try new things. The book is lovingly illustrated by Chiara Civati of Italy. Bourque is also the author of the “Rhyme or Reason Travel” series. For more information, visit www.Alycatseries.com.

Book events

“Forgotten Baton Rouge,” an exhibit of photos from Douglas Villien Sr.’s book of the same name, will be on display through Dec. 17 at the Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge.

Stephen Cormier presents “Acadians in Gray,” which includes a trip to St. Michael’s Cemetery, at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the St. Martinville Library in St. Martinville. For more information, call (337) 394-2258 or info@acadianmemorial.org.

Lyrically Inclined Poetry Slam and Open Mic begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Black Café in downtown Lafayette. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. and there will be a cash prize. By admission.

            Opelousas Open Mic Night will be Thursday at Java Square. 103 W Landry St., Opelousas.

            Dayana Stetco and Daniel Altenburg will read as part of the Thursday Night Reading presented by the UL-Lafayette English Department, EGSA and Sigma Tau Delta at 7 p.m. Thursday at Poets, 1043 Johnston St. in Lafayette.

            Dan Bright and Justin Nobel will discuss Bright’s case and his incarceration as detailed in “The Story of Dan Bright: Crime, Corruption, and Injustice in the Crescent City” at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Octavia Books of New Orleans.

C.K. Leger will sign “The Golden Thread: A Modern Cajun Fairy Tale,” from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Boho boutique in Sunset.

Peggy Scott Laborde, who writes about many historic features of New Orleans, has published “The Fair Grounds Through the Lens: Photographs and Memories of Horse Facing in New Orleans,” with principal photography by Louis Hodges Jr. She will discuss the book at 6 p.m. Saturday at Octavia Books in New Orleans.

Cheré Coen is the author of “Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History,” “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “Exploring Cajun Country.” She writes Louisiana romances under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.