Book Event: Great Bakes by Martin Sorge

We are excited to host Martin Sorge for an event celebrating Great Bakes: Modern Classic Recipes from the Midwest. For this event, Martin will be joined in conversation by Paul Fehribach.

Martin Sorge, winner of The Great American Baking Show, guides readers through more than 100 recipes for sweet and savory bakes that celebrate the bounty of the Midwest, from modern classics to innovative show-stoppers.

When Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith crowned Martin Sorge the winner of The Great American Baking Show in 2023, few would have guessed that his baking journey began with him setting the microwave on fire trying to make a biscuit. But after years spent in the kitchen, he had become a full-fledged "baking nerd next door"--the perfect guide to explain how to adjust a recipe for rye flour or perfect your pavlova without bogging you down with too many details.

In this debut cookbook, Martin shares those tips and many more, in a collection of recipes that highlight the ease and enjoyment of wholesome ingredients and simple flavors, while encouraging readers to try new twists on familiar favorites. These breads, cookies, crisps, cakes, pies, pastries, and--yes--biscuits sneak surprising ingredients into the classics: Super-Soft Malted Cinnamon Rolls that elevate the childhood staple, Glazed Lemon Verbena Shortbread that gets a bit of zing from the window-box herb, Sweet Corn Milk Bread that highlights the perfection of an ear of summer sweet corn. From the Midwestern flavors of Chicago Dog Focaccia and Michigan Forest Cake to traditional Christmas Stollen and Swabian Soft Pretzels rooted in Martin's German heritage, Great Bakes welcomes bakers of every level with recipes they'll reach for again and again.

Martin Sorge is a home baker, cook, writer, and recipe developer. His work has appeared in Food & Wine, the Chicago Tribune, Chicago magazine, WBEZ Chicago, Trink magazine, and more. He shares recipes, tips, and stories in his newsletter, also titled Great Bakes.Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith named Martin the winner of The Great American Baking Show in 2023. A native Hoosier, he lives in Chicago and Michigan's pinky finger with his husband and two cats.

Paul Fehribach is an eight-time James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: Great Lakes; and owner of the critically acclaimed Chicago restaurant, Big Jones. He was born and raised in the rolling wooded hills of Southern Indiana, and learned to hunt, fish, and find wild foods from an early age. Ample time spent on the family farms of relatives together with the woodland backdrop instilled a keen palate in him, reflected in the big, clean flavors he puts on the table along with a heated passion for true seasonal cooking. His book Midwestern Food: A Chef’s Guide to the Surprising History of a Great American Cuisine, with More Than 100 Tasty Recipes was named a book of the year by Food and Wine, Bon Appétit, and Eater. He is likewise the author of The Big Jones Cookbook: Recipes for Savoring the Heritage of Regional Southern Cooking, also published by the University of Chicago Press.

Accessibility: This event is hosted at the bookstore, which is a wheelchair accessible space. Masks are encouraged but not required for this event. We have one industrial air purifier, two smaller air purifiers, and four ceiling fans throughout our space. Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis. To request ASL interpretation for this event, please email events@womenandchildrenfirst.com by no later than 14 days before the event. For other access needs please email events@womenandchildrenfirst.com.