Author Andrew Caldwell, better known as the “history chef,” will return to the Tinder Box/Vino 100, 2217 S. Perryville Rd., for the Red Hot Challenge and Wine Tasting on Friday, May 7, from 1 to 8 p.m. There is no charge to attend and the public is invited.
Caldwell will serve as judge as firefighters from 11 Rockford stations and three area departments will prepare recipes from his new revised, hardcover edition of Their Last Suppers. Each team will draw a recipe from the book, have a day to gather ingredients, and then compete. Beginning at 1 p.m. and continuing each hour, two teams will have 40 minutes to prepare their dish for Caldwell to judge.
The event will also feature a wine tasting and book signing. The Red Hot Challenge will conclude with Caldwell presenting a donation to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Caldwell and Andrews McKeel Publishing are providing two new gas grills for the event. The top team and runner-up will each receive a grill for their station, and Caldwell, a trained classical chef, will cook for the winning team.
Caldwell appeared at Rockford’s Tinder Box for a book signing of his self-published edition of Their Last Suppers last November. Since then, he has revised the book, signed with Andrews McMeel Publishing Co., and finished a pilot for a TV series based on the book. Dennis Lambert, owner of Rockford’s Tinder Box/Vino 100 said he is honored that Caldwell chose his store to launch the new hardcover edition.
“Because of the support and encouragement he received from Tinder Box/Vino 100 and our customers, Andrew choose our store to begin his national tour,” said Lambert. “We’re thrilled to have him back.”
Also, Caldwell will be guest host of a special “Titanic Dinner” on Thursday, May 6, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Speakeasy, 19 N. High St., in Janesville, Wisconsin. There he will take participants through the history as they enjoy the same menu served on that fateful voyage.
Their Last Suppers combines history and food, and examines the lives of more than 60 legendary figures that died tragically before their time. The book looks at their lives, the mistakes they made (both funny and sad), the recipes for their last meal, and recipes for their favorite meals.
A trained classical chef, Caldwell won gold medals for ice and butter sculpture. He went on to manage some of the world’s largest resorts in 12 different countries, do consulting in the U.S. and abroad and own and operate his resort, Las Palomas, which was rated in ‘Americas Top 100 Little Inns’.
For more information, call Dennis Lambert at 815-226-4441, or e-mail: dennis@tinderbox-rockford.com.