On Saturday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m., Haute 100 member, local culinary legend, and nationally renowned Chef Michael Schwartz will be hosting a potluck dinner and book signing that truly embraces his signature local loyalty. The innovative James Beard Award-winning chef has compiled the best of his local-style, ingredient-driven culinary mastery into his debut cookbook, MICHAEL’S GENUINE FOOD: Down-to-Earth Cooking for People Who Love to Eat.

The event will take place at Books & Books, 265 Aragon Ave., in Coral Gables. Free and open to the public, the potluck party will feature live jazz and a scrumptious spread of dishes and drinks from his new book. Rather than restricting himself to the confines of the kitchen, Chef Michael Schwartz will embrace the ever-important local vibe and join the party himself by accompanying his guests in enjoying his recipes as prepared by local foodies, friends, and restaurant regulars. He will also be holding a Q&A session moderated by local Sun Sentinel food editor John Tanasychuk.

In accordance with Schwartz’s penchant for locally-sourced, innovative, and vibrant dishes, the book will showcase the cornerstones of his talents, including approachable ways to prepare the best of your fresh, local ingredients. The book will include information, especially valuable for those of us in South Florida, on how to shop locally and seasonally at the farmer’s market and how to make the most of any meal.

For existing Michael’s Genuine Food devotees, signature dishes from the restaurant will be featured in the cookbook, including delicious familiar favorites such as caramelized onion dip with thick-cut potato chips, jumbo lump crab cakes with carrot butter sauce, braised chicken with apricots, green olives and herbed couscous, slow-roasted boneless short ribs with Romesco sauce, and banana toffee panini. Additional to these local gems, recipes will cover a large span of tastes to include everything from quick, shareable snacks to one-pot family-style Sunday dinners.

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