LAS CRUCES — New Mexico State University’s School of Hospitality, Restaurant and Tourism Management will host its second Edible Book Festival next month.

This year’s festival will take place from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 9 during the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences Open House at Gerald Thomas Hall, 900 E. College Drive, at the Las Cruces campus.

The festival invites participants of all ages to create edible presentations of their favorite books using food as a medium. It is similar to other events held around the world as part of Edible Book Day. Registration is open at https://nmsu.news/Edible-Book-Festival through March 31.

HRTM held its first edible book festival in 2021 in a hybrid format due to restrictions on in-person gatherings. But this year’s event will be held entirely in person.

“We look forward to another chapter of the Edible Book Festival and invite members of the community to participate and attend,” said Liz Vega, who teaches HRTM’s Meetings, Conferences and Special Events course. “Everyone can contribute to this event; whether you’re a culinary-leaning student, teacher, or community member, we hope to see your favorite literary representation in edible form.

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Vega and her students are organizing this year’s festival.

Attendees must register beginning at 8 a.m. on April 9 at 100 West Café, HRTM’s student-run restaurant at Gerald Thomas Hall. Each entry must represent a literary work (fiction or non-fiction) or literary character. Puns on entry titles are encouraged. Appetizers must also be edible for the safety of the judges who will taste.

HRTM will award prizes in the following categories: best performance of a classic; the funniest or “the most boring”; the most visually appealing; better collaborative creation (team entry); the most appetizing; and people’s choice. Votes for this latest award can be cast in person at the open house from 9-11 a.m. or through HRTM’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Prizes include Visa gift cards, gift baskets from local businesses, and cooking necessities and supplies. A prize giving will take place at 11:30 a.m.

For more information or to donate prizes, contact Vega at vegaliz@nmsu.edu.

In addition to the Edible Book Festival, the ACES Open House will feature a variety of hands-on activities, demonstrations and exhibits, including wine tastings at the HRTM Bobby Lee Lawrence Academy of Wine.

Carlos Andres López writes for New Mexico State University Marketing and Communications and can be reached at 575-646-1955, or by email at carlopez@nmsu.edu.

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