Chef Edward Lee to Serve as Keynote for One Book, One Community Event

Photo by Jolea Brown

Award-winning chef Edward Lee is the author of this year's book selection, Buttermilk Graffiti: A Chef's Journey to Discover America's New Melting Pot Cuisine.

Tickets for the U of A’s 14th annual One Book, One community event are now available for reservation.

Award-winning chef Edward Lee, author of this year’s book selection, Buttermilk Graffiti: A Chef’s Journey to Discover America’s New Melting Pot Cuisine, will give a free, public lecture at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 7, at the Jim and Joyce Faulkner Performing Arts Center.

Tickets to the event are free, but seating is limited and reservations are required. Masks will also be required for attendees.

“Diversity is at the forefront of so many discussions we are having today — in our college, on our campus and in our world. We are excited to welcome Chef Lee to our campus to introduce how even our cuisine relates into these conversations,” said Kevin Fitzpatrick, chair of the One Book, One Community committee.

Lee spent two years traveling across the country to learn more about the people and traditions behind the food our multicultural society grows, prepares and eats.

“His book introduces readers to the concept of a ‘culinary memoir’ — connecting an individual’s favorite foods to the flavors, textures and stories of who they are. And I know his lecture will offer guests unique insight into the ‘culinary memoir’ of our diverse American cuisine,” said Fitzpatrick, who is also University Professor and Jones Chair in Community in the Department of Sociology and Criminology.

Lee is the chef and owner of 610 Magnolia, MilkWood and Whiskey Dry in Louisville, Kentucky, and the culinary director for Succotash in National Harbor, Maryland, and Penn Quarter, D.C.

He was the recipient of the 2019 James Beard Foundation award for Buttermilk Graffiti and has also been a six-time finalist for the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: Southeast.

Following the free, public lecture, attendees will have the opportunity to purchase a copy of Buttermilk Graffiti and have it signed by Lee.

As part of this year’s event, the One Book, One Community committee is also encouraging community members to submit a family recipe and check out what others have submitted on the recipe site, buttermilkgraffiti.uark.edu.

More information about the book, the author and upcoming events and resources connected to the book can be found on the One Book, One Community website.

About the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences: Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences is the largest and most academically diverse unit on the University of Arkansas campus, with three schools, 16 departments and 43 academic programs and research centers. The college also provides the majority of the core curriculum for all U of A students.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the top 3% of U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.