Two well-known men named Rocco in the culinary world will come together on Thursday, May 2 at the Cuyahoga Public Library (CCPL) Parma-Snow branch to talk about books, cooking, recipes, and the important role libraries play in communities at the fundraiser Books & Bites: A Culinary Literary Affair with Rocco DiSpirito.

The event will feature James Beard Award-winning chef and reality television star Rocco DiSpirito, who will discuss his upcoming cookbook “Everyday Delicious” in a conversation with Cleveland restauranteur and chef Rocco Whalen.

Books & BitesBooks & Bites: A Culinary Literary Affair with Rocco DiSpirito marks the in-person return of the Cuyahoga County Public Library Foundation’s annual Books & Bites fundraising event.

Books & Bites is CCPL’s largest fundraising event of the year. Money raised through the Culinary Literary Affair with Rocco DiSpirito event will help fund CCPL programs and services that benefit the Northeast Ohio community.

“The funds that the foundation raises for us are so important for that extra push beyond a collection of books and buildings,” says CCPL CEO Tracy Strobel. “We are able to be such an innovative library system and have a greater impact because we have these additional dollars that are raised through events like Books & Bytes.”

For instance, Strobel says the CCPL Foundation makes programs like the library system’s Kindergarten Club, a monthly class to prepare children who do not attend preschool for kindergarten, and Student Success Centers possible.

We've seen terrific results from our Student Success Centers, where we’ve provided free after school homework help and help with reading and literacy skills to kids in 12 locations [at branches in the most disadvantaged communities] for almost 20 years,” Strobel says. “Monday through Thursday after school, we have Student Success Centers that are staffed by trained tutors, and we work with kids each day to help them make sure they get that homework done.”

Strobel says the CCPL also recognizes the need for unique programs the library staff often identify through their patrons.

“The foundation steps in and seeds those ideas, and many of them become services,” she says. “That’s allowed us to do a lot of creative things, a lot of staff-led initiatives, and we're just so grateful for that opportunity. It really sets us apart. It makes us who we are, which is the top rated library in the country.”

Strobel cites a number of female Afghan refugees who settled in Cleveland last year after fleeing the Taliban, and how they came to CCPL to learn English in a new land, as one example of how CCPL staff and the foundation stepped up.

Everyday Delicious“This cohort of women actually had very little experience with formal education—to the point where they didn't really even know how to write their name,” she recalls. “To kind of jump into a standard ESL class was really challenging for them. The foundation, on a moment's notice, heard about this and funded a program for that cohort of women to teach them some of the skills they would need to be successful once they were ready for a standard English as a second language class.”

These are just some of the unique programs the CCPL Foundation funds at the 27 library branches in Cuyahoga County. Fundraisers like Books & Bites: A Culinary Literary Affair with Rocco DiSpirito help the foundation raise the money for such programs.

Tickets are now on sale.

The $50 general admission tickets include a seat at the author talk, a copy of “Everyday Delicious,” which features “30 minute(ish) home-cooked meals made simple,” access to the post-event book signing, and one entry in a drawing to win a 3-D printed gift made in one of the CCPL Innovation Centers.

The $200 VIP tickets also give floor seating for the discussion, the book and priority access to the book signing. Other perks include a 5 p.m. pre-talk reception featuring food and drink from Edwins Restaurant, which will be featuring recipes from DiSpirito's boook, food demos, silent auction, demos by the CCPL Innovation Center, a chance to win an Innovation Center gift, and a gift bag with a custom notebook—a 3-D printed notebook engraved with one of four words from CCPL’s motto—Read, Learn, Create, or Connect—made in the Innovation Center, and an event coaster.

Books & Bites runs from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., with the VIP reception beginning at 5 p.m., at the Cuyahoga County Public Library Parma-Snow Branch, 2121 Snow Road, Parma. Questions about the event can be emailed to CCPL special event coordinator Hillary Walker.