By hook or by crook, the Book and the Cook is at last coming together for 2007. Dates are Oct. 22-28. TB&TC is a Philly-grown, annual pairing of local restaurants and national authors. TB&TC has been a victim of its own success, in a way. It was created back in the mid-1980s, when Emeril was probably a fry cook somewhere in Fall River. TB&TC gave needed exposure to chefs and cookbook authors. Now there are cooking shows on every channel, and the authors have been stretched thin. (Except for Emeril, who has seriously packed on the avoirdupois.) While TB&TC traditionally was held in the spring, it began having trouble attracting authors that time of year. Organizers of the 2007 event aimed for the fall, as the holiday book-selling season kicks into gear. Still, '07 participation seems spotty so far. There's no title sponsor, and no marketplace-type fair as in years past. The event list is shaping up and one of the more intriguing ones will bring 
Joan Nathan (left), the “doyenne of Jewish American food," to cook with 
Alison Barshak (right) at her restaurant Alison at Blue Bell on Oct. 28. Nathan's most recent cookbook, "The New American Cooking," won a James Beard Award and received the annual Best American Cookbook award from the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP). The dinner price has not yet been set.
See the growing list of authors/restaurants here.