The annual Edible Book Festival returns to UW-Madison's Memorial Library
4:00-6:00 pm
Tuesday, 16 April, 2013
UW-Madison's Memorial Library
728 State Street
Memorial Commons (Room 460)
Entry deadline: Monday, April 15
"Book-inspired food."
The Edible Book Festival is a free—open to the public—event, sponsored by the UW-Madison General Library System and UW Memorial Library, in celebration of National Library Week.
Over the years, "edible books" have been made from cake, breadsticks, chocolate, veggies, and matzo meal. Every entry provides not only some artsy good fun with a dash of creativity, but the promotion of libraries through community engagement. You don't have to be a food artist to sign-up! Past entries have come from UW faculty & staff and their families, students, community members, and a variety of organizations on- and off-campus.
Members of the community are encouraged to attend, ogle the edible art, and vote for their favorite entries. This is a family-friendly event, so bring the kids! A cake for attendees will be provided and served so no one is tempted to taste the entries. Certificates and prizes will be awarded in multiple categories by the official judges. As in years past, all who attend will be given the opportunity to vote for the "People’s Choice” award (a.k.a. “Best in Show”).
The 2013 theme celebrating National Library Week is “Communities Matter,” so please join us for this community engaging event and support the promotion of creativity and reading through libraries.
History
The International Edible Book Festival is held annually around April 1st. Countries around the world participate in this festival, including: Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, United States of America, and Russia. The April 1st date is in homage to the author Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826), famous for his book Physiologie du got, a witty meditation on food.
The International Edible Book Festival is the creation of Judith A. Hoffberg and Batrice Coron. Judith came up with the idea during a 1999 Thanksgiving dinner with book artists, and Batrice created the Books2Eat website so that people around the world can enjoy the food artists' created. Their first event was held in 2000. In 2006, the Edible Book Festival came to UW-Madison for the School of Library and Information Sciences (SLIS) centennial year celebration. Since that time, UW-Madison Libraries' have continued to promote just how much fun it is to have your cake and read it, too!
2012 EBF Press Coverage/Photos
Badger Herald (2012): “Feature photo: Food For Thought”
Capital Times (2012): Photos: Edible Books
Daily Cardinal (2012): “Food As Thought”
Eating in Madison A to Z (2012): “Edible Book Fest 2012”
Flickr: Madison A to Z: “Edible Book Festival 2012”
Entry Form for the Edible Book Festival
Please complete the online application by Monday, April 15, 2013. (There is no application fee.)
2013 Edible Book Festival Judges
Leigh Henderson: Leigh is a PhD student in the UW Department of Theatre and Drama. In her free time, she loves decorating cakes, making candy, and carving pumpkins. Last year she competed on the Food Network's "Halloween Wars." You can see some of her creations at www.doitmyself.org.
Nichole Fromm & JonMichael Rasmus: Blog authors for Eating in Madison A to Z, "a date-night decision-making tool and dining diary" for restaurants throughout the city.
Orange Schroeder: Owner at Orange Tree Imports and Cooking School, a specialty shop in the Monroe Street neighborhood featuring kitchenware, toys, gifts and more.
2013 Edible Book Festival Prize Categories
- People's Choice
- Most Creative Use of Ingredients
- Best Visual Presentation
- Funniest/Punniest
- Best Entry Based on a Children's/Teen's Book
- Best Literary Mash-Up
2013 Edible Book Festival Sponsors/Donors
Please thank our generous donors the next time you patronize their establishments! Their gift certificates and food make the event more fun (and tasty!) for all.