April 02, 2013
‘Edible Book Festival’ is quite a treat
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- A cheesy rabbit, baklava books and White Castle burgers were among the clever entry elements for Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s 2013 Edible Book Festival this week.
Students, faculty, staff and community members tested their creativity, imagination and in many cases, their craftiness with edible items as they created predominantly consumable entries bearing titles that reference actual books.
Katie Hogan, a sophomore physiology major, won the grand prize, a Kindle, with her detailed and delicate baklava “Booklava Library.” Hogan also won the Best Book Structure category.
Also getting much attention and winning the “Public’s Favorite” vote was “The Velveetateen Rabbit.” The dish featured Velveeta cheese with assorted trim including licorice and olives. Julie Mosbo, assistant professor of Library Affairs, created the bunny from the favorite children’s tale.
The other prizewinners in the annual competition were:
• Least Edible -- Kate Harrison, senior library specialist with Library Affairs, “Two Fig Two Ale (“Too Big to Fail”).
• Most Edible -- Lacey Gibson, junior, physiology major, “Little House on the Prairie.”
• Punniest -- Lynn Geske, business manager II with Library Affairs, “We Have Always Lived in the White Castle.”
The festival is part of an international event that occurs around the April Fool’s Day birthday of Jean-Anthelme Billat-Savarin (1755-1826), the author of the famous, witty food book “Physiologie du gout.” Morris Library, the Friends of Morris Library and Chartwells sponsored the 2013 event.