The best way to spend Wednesday evening? Soaking up the dulcet tones of author and culinary anthropologist John T. Edge, in town for the night from Oxford, Miss., to talk up his latest title, "The Food Truck Cookbook" (Workman, $18.95).

The prolific Mr. Edge runs the University of Mississippi's influential Southern Foodways Alliance, writes the monthly "United Tastes" feature for the New York Times, contributes to Saveur (his must-read piece, "BBQ Nation," landed him the MFK Fisher Distinguished Writing Award at last week's James Beard Awards) and other food magazines and is the name behind a series of entertaining and deeply researched books exploring apple pie, fried chicken and other all-American food topics. The man knows his stuff, and his gracious southern accent and infectious guffaw are added bonuses.

The question-and-answer period (it's free) starts at 7 p.m. at the Mill City Museum in Minneapolis, with a meet-and-greet (and book signing opportunity) to follow. As an added attraction, the Chef Shack -- one of the several dozen mobile kitchens profiled in the book -- will be cooking, from 6 to 8 p.m. Don't miss it.