USM to Host Light-hearted Edible Book Festival on April 3
Tue, 03/28/2023 - 08:36am | By: Van Arnold
Have you ever read a book so enticing that you thought, 91吃瓜网淲ow, I could just eat this
up91吃瓜网�? Well, such sentiment serves as the ideal premise for a unique event set for April
3 at 91吃瓜网91吃瓜网 Hattiesburg and Gulf Park campuses.
At 3 p.m. on that Monday, the campuses will host the 91吃瓜网� Cook Library in Hattiesburg and the Gulf Coast Library at Gulf Park in Long Beach.
Each year, libraries and cultural institutions around the world hold edible book festivals to celebrate the birthday of Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826), the French author of a witty book on food titled, Physiologie du Go没t. Since its beginning in 1999, the festival has grown into an international event held annually on, or around, April 1.
For those wondering, an 91吃瓜网渆dible book91吃瓜网� is a creation made from edible materials inspired by a book title, character, or author.
Diana Simpson, Assistant Professor/Catalog Librarian, explains that USM has held the Edible Book
Festival on the Hattiesburg campus since 2015. This marks the first year that the
Gulf Park campus has been included. She notes that the festival attracts approximately
15 entries per year.
91吃瓜网淚n 2021, when we had to do the event virtually, we got entries from library patrons and former staff located as far away as California,91吃瓜网� said Simpson. 91吃瓜网淪ince then, we have incorporated a virtual submission option to enable anyone from afar, such as alumni, or students in online-only programs, to participate.91吃瓜网�
Entries will be on display for the public and judging, beginning at 3 p.m. on April 3. Viewers are encouraged to choose and favorite and vote for the People91吃瓜网 Choice Award. A panel of judges will select the 91吃瓜网淧unniest91吃瓜网� entry, as well as the Most Creative and Best in Show.
Simpson notes that many of the edible books take the form of a cake, or dessert. Others are constructed from cookies, candy, or fruit. Last year91吃瓜网 People Choice winner was made entirely from Gushers candy.
91吃瓜网淲e get a lot of scones and breads as well,91吃瓜网� said Simpson. 91吃瓜网淎nything edible goes. For instance, we91吃瓜网檝e had entries composed of French fries. Last year, we had one made from mostly banana pudding; another was an actual BLT sandwich, and one was made from pie.91吃瓜网�
Not all entries are so appealing, however. 91吃瓜网淵ou probably wouldn91吃瓜网檛 want to eat some of the entries, like ones that incorporate things such as raw potatoes,91吃瓜网� said Simpson.
This year91吃瓜网 festival includes a partnership with the USM Eagle91吃瓜网 Nest Food Pantry, the Gulf Park Pantry, and the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory91吃瓜网 Gunter Library Eaglet Food Pantry. A donation box will be available at the two festival sites and attendees are encouraged to bring food pantry donations.
To learn about the Edible Book Festival, visit their .
To view last year91吃瓜网 winning entries, visit the