Piglet Party!!!!!

When I wrote "Babycakes" the cookbook, I thought my audience was strictly made up of hopeless allergy sufferers, die hard vegans and virtuous health-conscious eaters alone. Little did I know how many different walks of culinary life would embrace it. So it was to my (super stoked) surprise that "Babycakes" was one of the 16 cookbooks in Food52.Com's annual Piglet Tournament of Cookbooks! Especially because the books in the tournament were considered to be the best of the year.

Quick buzz kill: "Babycakes" lost to "Well Preserved", but in my mind I couldn't have been defeated by a better book. My ego was minimally damaged. So on to the party, right? Here's some details about the event from Food52.Com and Astor Center:

Is the cookbook as we know it still relevant? We think so. In fact, it may be in its prime. From now through November 5th, you can witness the proof: watch the action unfold in the Tournament of Cookbooks on food52.com as 16 of the year's best cookbooks go head to head in a bracketed competition, vying for the coveted Piglet Trophy. Once a winner has been declared, come raise a glass (or several) with both authors and judges as you feast on a variety of dishes from the contenders.

There will be an hour-long panel discussion beginning at 7 pm, moderated by Gail Simmons. Panelists will include Peter Kaminsky, Gabrielle Hamilton, Peter Meehan, Melissa Hamilton and Christopher Hirsheimer, and they will talk about the current state of cookbooks, as well as the direction they're headed. They'll ponder what makes a great cookbook, and how new technology is shaping both the medium and content of the culinary genre.

You can score tickets to the event here. I'll be there with frosted brownie bites if that sweetens the deal!