Carla Hall CARLA BAKES

Award-winning chef and television personality Carla Hall talks about her new book CARLA BAKES with Chicago author Natalie Moore

September 11 | Off-Site | 6:00 PM Early Bird pricing of $60 available through August 3; afterwards tickets will increase to $70

Join Bookends & Beginnings for an unforgettable evening in-person and book-signing with award-winning chef and television personality Carla Hall , as she talks about her new cookbook, CARLA BAKES with Chicago author and media personality Natalie Moore at Nichols Concert Hall in Evanston. Carla’s newest cookbook features 80 recipes for savory and sweet goods rooted in her Southern traditions and inspired by her world travels.

Together, Carla and Natalie will sample recipes from the book prepared by the culinary organization Les Dames d’Escoffier of Chicago , and a portion of the event proceeds will be donated to the Chicago chapter’s scholarship program, dedicated to growing the new generation of women in the culinary space. Carla will sign books following the discussion.

Doors at 5:30PM Getting there: Nichols Concert Hall is located at 1490 Chicago Avenue in Evanston (in the Music Institute). By public transit: multiple CTA buslines, the Metra (north line), the "L" (purple line), and Divvy. Parking: limited street parking and there are nearby parking garages on Sherman and on Davis.

^^^^ About the book: For Carla Hall, baking is a creative outlet, her source of play, and her first true passion. But her journey from absolute beginner to Top Chef fan-favorite didn't start until she was well into her twenties with two careers— accounting and modeling —already behind her. Away from home and missing the Southern flavors she grew up with, she took to the kitchen and began to experiment, master, and perfect. Now, as a multi-cookbook author and guest judge on multiple baking competitions, Carla is ready to share all her baking knowledge that will guide you whether you're at novice baker or an expert one. Carla Bakes is filled with over 80 recipes for baking savory and sweet goods rooted in her Southern traditions and inspired by her world travels. Carla brings her joy and playfulness to every recipe, showing you just how much fun it is to bake and bring your own twists to new recipes, including: • breakfast treats like Sorghum Flour Drop Biscuits , Crisp Sweet Corn Waffles , and Savory Clafoutis with Tomatoes, Goat Cheese, and Smoky Tomato Curd • cookies like Nut Butter Puffed Cereal Treats , Southern Pecan Crinkle Baklava , and Shortbread Cookie Canvas • pastries like Giant Frosted Strawberry Pop Tart , Sweet Po-Punkin Pie , and Ham & Cheese Paris-Brest • cakes like Double Chocolate Oat Flour Snack Cake , Lemon Meringue Cake , and Fairytale Forest Party Cake • yeasted goods like Hot Cross Milk Buns with Port- and Hibiscus-Soaked Fruit , Butternut Squash Beignets with Spiced Sugar , and Chocolate Focaccia If you've ever felt intimidated by baking, set those fears aside. Carla's expert guidance and encouragement in Carla Bakes will leave you feeling confident and inspired in your kitchen! About Carla: Carla Hall first won over audiences on Bravo’s Top Chef , where her “cook with love” philosophy became her hallmark. Her belief that food connects us all provides a through-line in her work both on and off camera. Carla charmed viewers as a co-host on ABC’s Emmy Award–winning The Chew for seven years, appearing on the Food Network on various baking shows and now on Next Level Baker on Fox. She is also the host of the Emmy-winning travel-food series Chasing Flavor on HBO Max. Carla is the author or co-author of five cookbooks—including the NAACP Image Award–nominated Carla Hall’s Soul Food —and two children’s books. She also hosts the hit podcast Chewed Up and created and stars in her acclaimed one-woman show, Carla Hall: Please Underestimate Me . Carla is active in many charitable endeavors and focuses her board member-level participation in organizations where she can make an impact advocating for children through Beyond Bedtime (formerly Pajama Program) and GENYOUth. Lauren Chattman is an award-winning cookbook author, freelance writer, and former professional pastry chef. About Natalie: Natalie Y. Moore is an award-winning journalist based in Chicago, whose reporting tackles race, housing, economic development, food injustice and violence. Natalie’s acclaimed book The South Side: A Portrait of Chicago and American Segregation received the 2016 Chicago Review of Books award for nonfiction and was Buzzfeed’s best nonfiction book of 2016. The Pulitzer Center named her a 2020 Richard C. Longworth Media Fellow for international reporting. In 2021, University of Chicago Center for Effective Government (CEG) welcomed her in its first cohort of Senior Practitioner Fellows. Natalie teaches as an adjunct at Northwestern University. Chicago Dramatists named her a playwright-in-residence in 2023 and bestowed her with the inaugural Lydia Diamond award. Natalie’s work has helped shift the way Chicagoans today think about segregation in the region. She is a sought-after speaker for high school assemblies, colleges, foundations, churches, festivals and community groups. Natalie is still thrilled Alex Trebek said her name when she and her book were a “Jeopardy” clue.