FAIRHOPE, Ala. — Page & Palette, 32 S. Section St. in Fairhope, will host Birmingham chef Frank Stitt on Thursday, May 7, 6–8 p.m. In honor of Chef Stiff, fun and festive plans are being made to celebrate the publication of his “Bottega Favorita.”

Subtitled “A Southern Chef’s Love Affair with Italian Food,”  the purity and simplicity of Mediterranean flavors are celebrated with Southern spirit on every page.

“America’s love of Italian food is probably the most dominant cultural trend. Everyone loves Italian food!” Stitt says. “And I know why: Italian food is rustic, simple, immediate and satisfying.”

Stitt is the chef and owner of Highlands Bar and Grill, Bottega Restaurant and Café  and Chez Fonfon, all located in Birmingham.

He won the James Beard Award for the Best Chef of the Southeast and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Southern Foodways Alliance.

Hailed by writer Pat Conroy as “the best chef in America,” Page & Palette is pulling out all the stops to welcome Stitt to lower Alabama.

Sponsored by local dentist Dr. Daniel Deese, the Stitt cookbook signing in Fairhope will feature wonderful food from the chef’s recipes, prepared by Panini Pete’s in the Fairhope French Quarter.

Panini Pete’s Café opened in February 2006 and quickly became a local favorite. It has garnered a host of positive media attention and rave reviews, not to mention an appearance on the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins & Dives” with Guy Fieri.

More food and drinks will be provided by Andree’s Wine, Cheese & Things of Fairhope. Andree’s has been serving excellent food for over 20 years, right on Fairhope Avenue.

A popular lunch spot, Andree’s is also known for their gourmet gift baskets, extensive wine and cheese selections as well as their catering services.

Specifically selected to compliment the cuisine, an elegant selection of wines will be available for tasting.

Live entertainment will be provided by local musician Katy English, and area artists will be on hand to display and create their paintings.

In this event open to the public, Page & Palette encourages everyone who has an appreciation for truly fine food to meet Chef Stitt and enjoy the fare from Panini Pete’s and Andree’s.

Page & Palette is also taking Stitt further south to another Alabama landmark, LuLu’s at Homeport Marina, located off Alabama Highway 59 at the Intracoastal Waterway.

On Friday, May 8, Stitt will be on hand to sign copies of “Bottega Favorita” with another cookbook author, Lucy Buffett.

From 6 to 7:30 p.m., both Chef Stitt and Lucy will meet their fans and sign their respective cookbooks.

Lucy’s “Crazy Sista Cooking: Cuisine and Conversation” has had multiple printings since its initial publication in 2008, and features over 120 recipes from her restaurant and lots of fun stories told only as Lucy Buffett can.

So mark your calendars to meet Stitt at Page & Palette on Thursday, or on Friday at Lulu’s in Gulf Shores.

Stitt will exclusively sign copies of his books purchased from Page & Palette.

For more information, call (251) 928-5295 or visit www.pageandpalette.com.