Norman Van Aken -- My Key West Kitchen -- Gables

Start: Nov 27 2012 8:00 pm

Legendary Chef Norman Van Aken is known internationally as "the founding father of New World Cuisine," a celebration of Latin, Caribbean, Asian, African and American flavors. He is also known for introducing the concept of "fusion" to the culinary world in a symposium on American cooking in Santa Fe in 1988. He is the only Floridian inducted into the prestigious James Beard list of "Who's Who in American Food and Beverage." He is the Chef and Director of Restaurants at The Miami Culinary Institute as well as the Chef-Owner of "NORMAN'S at the Ritz-Carlton, Grande Lake, Orlando". The New York Times deemed his fine dining restaurant, "NORMAN'S", "the Best Restaurant in Florida and Norman Van Aken its best Chef."

My Key West Kitchen (Kyle Cathie, $29.95) is chef Van Aken's love letter to Key West, where he first found the passion to cook, and where the unique cultural makeup of the island influenced his cuisine today—from the "little joints" of the island to the locals' home cooking—as well as recipes from Norman's past and present. The colorful stories behind the recipes make My Key West Kitchen essential reading both in and out of the kitchen.