For the past two years the Ocean County Library’s annual book festival has revolved around a food theme. In the past we brought in celebrity chefs, artisan bakers, servers and restaurant owners.

This year's book festival, to be held Sept. 26 from 11AM to 3PM, will be no different.

Please Note: The Ocean County Library Foundation will be collecting canned goods at Bookfest! And will distribute the food to local Ocean County food pantries!- Please help!

This year will also feature Teen programs - including a Sweets to Die For Teen Dessert Contest.
Click here to download the brochure!

Parking for BookFest is free in the municipal parking lot behind the library and at the multi-storied county parking lot between Hooper and Hadley Avenues.

Our lineup of more than one dozen authors for this year's "Something’s Cooking at the Ocean County Library…A Taste of the Arts," includes:

Mike Colameco, host of PBS's "Colameco's Food Show" and WOR Radio’s "Food Talk," helps unravel the confusing rich and diverse dining scene of New York City in his soon to be released book (Aug. 31) "Mike Colameco’s Food Lover’s Guide to NYC." Drawing on his experience as a chef and New Yorker, he offers in-depth reviews of his favorite eating options, from high-end restaurants to cheap takeout counters. He also recommends butchers, bakers, chocolatiers, cheese stores, fishmongers, pastry shops and wine merchants in every price range and every NYC neighborhood.

Jane and Michael Stern have co-written more than 30 books, including their recently released "500 Things To Eat Before It's Too Late: And The Very Best Places to Eat Them." These two gastronomic road warriors have spent years sampling and eating their way across America, offering readers insights into which restaurants are on top of their game and why. Many readers admit to dining with them vicariously and this latest book has been called the Stern's best yet.

David Leite also presents a regional cookbook with "The New Portuguese Table." The book does double duty. It enables the reader to tour Portugal vicariously as Leite, a Portuguese-American food writer and three-time winner of the James Beard award, contextualizes the nation's recipes.

Philadelphia-based author, journalist and pioneering chef Aliza Green will bring her tenth and latest cookbook, "Starting with Ingredients," to Bookfest. The book's innovative structure – literally "starting with ingredients" – organizes the more than 350 recipes, so that readers understand the most important baking ingredients, their origins, how they're used, and how they work. http://www.alizagreen.com/

Tara Mataraza Desmond co-wrote "Almost Meatless: Recipes that are Better for your Health and the Planet." A food writer and recipe developer, she has contributed to television productions for the Food Network and to several cookbooks, including those for Philadelphia restaurants "Fork" and "Vetri." Her writing and original recipes have appeared in "Philadelphia Style" magazine and the "Philadelphia Inquirer."

Brian Yarvin has written four books including his recently released "The Too Many Tomatoes Cookbook: Classic and Exotic Recipes from Around the World" and "Farms and Foods of The Garden State: a New Jersey Cookbook."

Natural nutritionist Tracee Yablon Brenner, author of "Simple Foods for Busy Families," teaches people about the importance of eating "real foods" like fruits, vegetables and whole grains, along with an assortment of delicious herbs and spices.

And for those people whose party drinks do not include alcohol, Liz Scott's "Zero Proof Cocktails: Alcohol-Free Beverages for Every Occasion" will provide 100 fruity, fizzy and festive drinks that are even tastier than their spirited counterparts.

Sharon Bowers presents special Halloween recipes just in time for the holiday in her book "Ghoulish Goodies: Monster Eyeballs, Fudge Fingers, Spidery Cupcakes and Other Frightful Treats."

Oswald Rivera has written five books, including two novels. His three cookbooks reflect his Puerto Rican and New York City roots, as well as his interest in history. "The Pharoah's Feast" presents 110 simple recipes culled from history and substitutes contemporary ingredients for such items as silphium, garum and samidu for easy preparation. http://www.oswaldrivera.com/

Marvin Korman's "In My Father’s Bakery" is a memoir of Bronx life in the 1930s and 40s, revealing what it was like growing up in a Jewish family during the Depression and during World War Two.

The Copacabana was more than just the title of a hit song sung by Barry Manilow. The legendary night club, owned by Russian immigrant Jules Podell, featured stand out singers like Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Peggy Lee and The Temptations.

Mickey Podell-Rabner, Jules Podell's only child, grew up going to the club every Sunday night shared many of the big moments in her life with many of the stars who graced her father’s stage. She has written "The Copa," a behind the scenes look at the destination for the rich, famous and dangerous of New York.

Pete Genovese, a reporter for The Star-Ledger, has roamed all over the Garden State in search of the best culinary experiences it has to offer. His glove-compartment sized guide book, "Jersey Eats," condenses ten years of food and fun and presents an easy-to-transport reference to New Jersey. He is also author of "Jersey Diners" and "The Food Lover's Guide to New Jersey."

After visiting more than 50 Cheesesteak shops in Philadelphia, Carolyn Wyman can safely claim that she knows something about what distinguishes good sandwiches from great sandwiches. Her criteria for the best cheesteaks? A fresh roll that's neither too hard nor too flabby; cheese that is noticeable but not overwhelming; meat that has the chew of steak without being tough or gristly; onions that are neither raw nor so caramelized as to resemble ketchup; and for all four of these elements to alchemize into a taste and texture that is distinctively and uniquely cheesesteak.

The mother and daughter writing team of Andrea Marks Carniero and Roz Marks's "Jewish Boot Camp Cooking" is a guide to preparing traditional favorites for a new generation. These fifty-plus time-tested recipes, along with tips gathered from Jewish bartenders, DJs, nutritionists and rabbis, will assist even the most kitchen-challenged person in preparing for the Jewish holidays and celebrations.

Sharon Valencik comes from a lineage of artistic chef matriarchs and has been baking since age five. She now enjoys traveling the world in search of vegan restaurants and is active in the New York City/New Jersey vegan community. Her easy-to-make, sensational desserts are all lactose- and cholesterol-free. Now you can create the luscious flavors and familiar textures of traditional desserts without the use of eggs or dairy. Straightforward ingredients are used to create a variety of the best cakes, cookies, pies, puddings, and other treats.

Tracey Seaman, author of "Real Foods for Healthy Kids," will present ideas for getting kids involved in the cooking process and guide you through starting kids off eating right, cooking on a budget, managing portion control, and offer practical tips to help you retain your sanity in the kitchen while you cook with your team.

Andrea Chesman is a food writer and author of many cookbooks, including "The Garden Fresh Vegetable Cookbook," "Mom's Best One-Dish Suppers," and "The Vegetarian Grill," nominated for a James Beard Foundation Book Award and winner of a National Barbecue Association Award of Excellence. She has also edited several books on cooking and gardening and her work has appeared in many national magazines.

Beth Lipton, food editor and author of "You made That Dessert?" will talk about that time when providing a store-bought cake or cookies doesn't quite qualify for a special occasion dessert, yet you don't have the time nor experience to create a "to die for" treat. Beth will explain basic baking principles and techniques. Her 100-plus recipes are easy, and mostly quick, but without sacrificing quality.

Author and blogger (urbanvegan.net) Dynise Balcavage will discuss her latest book, "The Urban Vegan," and offer up inspiration for a healthy, varied, and delicious diet to be harvested from city markets, restaurants and corner store vegans visit. The 250 recipes are inspired from the colorful culinary landscapes of urban area.

Chef Richard Jones will bring his authentic southern food recipes from his Queens, NY restaurant to Bookfest while he presents his cookbook, "Supper at Richard's Place." Many of the 150 recipes are updated with ingredients to make healthy presentations of classic Southern meals.

Tying music and food together, authors Kay Bozich Owens and Lynn Owens will present their book, "Lost in the Supermarket," which is named for the 1979 hit by The Clash. A meditation on the connections between food and music, this cookbook is full of the favorite daily dishes and special-event grub recipes of some of indie rock's elite.