Melissa Clark | The Big Book of Dinner
Melissa Clark discusses her cookbook *The Big Book of Dinner* and the techniques, flexible recipes, and foundational lessons that help home cooks prepare flavorful meals with confidence. Drawing on a chef’s creativity and a home cook’s need for practicality, Clark shows how to follow recipes precisely or adapt them to create something personal.
The book includes recipes such as Italian-American meatballs that can be reimagined with Middle Eastern-inspired spices or turned into a sheet-pan dinner with roasted vegetables, along with sweet-and-spicy chicken variations, creamy corn pasta, vegetable and plant-based dishes, guidance on cooking steak and braising, and a wide selection of desserts. Clark is a New York Times bestselling author, a staff writer for the newspaper’s Food section, and the creator of its “A Good Appetite” column. She has received multiple James Beard and IACP awards, earned an MFA in writing from Columbia University, and has contributed to *The Best American Food Writing*.
When: Wednesday, November 18, 2026
Showtime: 7:00 P.M.
Tickets: $5.00
Registration: Registration is required. The event page asks attendees to consider making a donation when registering to support the Author Events Series.
Speaker: Melissa Clark
Book: Books will be available for purchase at the library on the evening of the event.
Ages: Adult and Young Adult
Venue: Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine Street, between 19th and 20th Streets on the Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1189
Accessibility: ADA-accessible seating is available. Contact authorevents@freelibrary.org in advance to request wheelchair seating or other accessibility accommodations.
Refunds: Tickets are non-refundable.
Event type: Author Events, part of the Author Events—Ticketed Series
Contact: 215-567-4341