Tucson Festival of Books

John Birdsall (he / him)


John Birdsall is the author of "The Man Who Ate Too Much: The Life of James Beard" and "What is Queer Food?: How We Served a Revolution," and the recipient of two James Beard Awards for food and culture writing. He resides in Tucson.

Arizona author Bluesky Instagram

Awards: James Beard Award

Communities: Arizona Author, Tucsonan, LGBTQ+


Scheduled events:
Salsa Daddy
Join Rick Martinez for a lively tribute to the world of salsas. From traditional to modern, salsas spice up everyday home cooking as dips, condiments and flavorful additions to roasted veggies, grilled burgers and more. Salsa-it's not just a condiment, it's a lifestyle.

Culinary Stage (Seats 265)  View this venue on the Festival map
Sat, Mar 14, 11:30 am - 12:25 pm
Multigenre
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - Central Mall (following presentation)  View this venue on the Festival map

Panelist: Rick Martínez
Moderator: John Birdsall
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Arizona Appliance and Home, JT Kasper
Truly Texas Mexican Plant-Based Cooking
Author and chef Adán Medrano, a Coahuiltecan descendant, will showcase vibrant, plant-forward dishes rooted in Texan and Mexican traditions. Infuse your comida casera (home cooking) with ancient ingredients and simple techniques that originated in indigenous cooking and culture.

Culinary Stage (Seats 265)  View this venue on the Festival map
Sat, Mar 14, 4:00 pm - 4:55 pm
Multigenre
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - Central Mall (following presentation)  View this venue on the Festival map

Panelist: Adán Medrano
Moderator: John Birdsall
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Arizona Appliance and Home, Michael and Marjorie Lipson
Treasured Recipes Lost and Found
While traveling the world and exploring culinary heritages and foodways, Michael Shaikh realized that food has the power to tell our stories. Join him as he shares recipes from heroic home cooks determined to perpetuate their cultural cuisine even while living in the midst of modern-day conflict zones.

Culinary Stage (Seats 265)  View this venue on the Festival map
Sun, Mar 15, 1:00 pm - 1:55 pm
Culinary
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - Central Mall (following presentation)  View this venue on the Festival map

Panelist: Michael Shaikh
Moderator: John Birdsall
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Arizona Appliance and Home, Vivian and Jim Schwab
Food in Culture and Community
Join authors John Birdsall, Michael Shaikh, and Adán Medrano to discover how food shapes identity, memory, and community across cultures. Through personal stories, culinary research, and literary perspectives, they’ll examine the politics of taste, migration-driven recipes, and the rituals that keep traditions alive.

Student Union Kachina (Seats 100)  View this venue on the Festival map
Sun, Mar 15, 4:00 pm - 4:55 pm
Multigenre
Signing area: Sales & Signing - UA Campus Store (Mall) (following presentation)  View this venue on the Festival map

Panelists: John Birdsall, Adán Medrano, Michael Shaikh
Moderator: Edie Jarolim
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Elizabeth Green, Judith Marro, Jim and Kim Rosborough

Book:
What Is Queer Food?
How We Served a Revolution
Memoir / Essays / Creative Nonfiction
W.W. Norton
June 2025
ISBN 9781324073796
304 pages
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