In today's AJC, I have a story about Anne Byrn, who may be best known as the bestselling author of "The Cake Mix Doctor" cookbook series. But as her newest offering, "Anne Byrn Saves the Day Cookbook" (Workman, $18.95), shows, Byrn's passions and problem solving skills extend well beyond batter and frosting.
The collection of 125 “go-to-recipes,” gleaned from friends, family and her own files, are aimed at rescuing weeknight dinners and giving busy home cooks easy to make dishes to show off at a potluck, book club meeting or holiday gathering. And as the intros make clear, every recipe tells a story.
What I personally found most fascinating about interviewing Byrn, though, is her history and local connections. After graduating from the University of Georgia in 1978, she spent 15 years as the food editor at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, beginning the beat at a time when the Rich’s department store Cooking School and director Nathalie Dupree attracted famous teacher chefs such as Julia Child.
“That job was about reporting on all of the interesting people who came to Atlanta to cook at Rich’s and teach classes around the city,” Byrn remembered. “It was a wonderful place to be to learn to cook and write about food.”
Later, Byrn took a leave of absence and moved to Paris to study cooking at La Varenne Ecole de Cuisine. She admits she returned to Atlanta “a real food snob.”
I imagine Byrn during that period as the original Julie of "Julie and Julia." Or a kind of Mary Tyler Moore character who was a little too spunky for the crusty, mostly male newspaper editors of day. She told me that she got the food editor job after being asked if she could fry chicken.
EVENTS
Anne Byrn will be around Atlanta next week for two events for the “Anne Byrn Saves the Day Cookbook.”
Women of UGA Holiday Luncheon with Anne Byrn . $30, includes lunch. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. December 2. The Wimbish House, 1150 Peachtree Street N.E., Atlanta, 404-870-8833.
Gwinnett County Public Library Welcomes Anne Byrn. Free and open to the public, talk, tasting, and book signing. 6:30-8 p.m. Dec. 3. 5570 Spalding Drive, Nocross. Contact: Denise Auger, dauger@gwinnettpl.org , 770-822-5375.
About the Author
