Book talk + Dessert Potluck with Justin Burke: “Potluck Desserts”
Schedule
Thu, 02 Oct, 2025 at 06:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
734 Harden St., Columbia, SC, United States, South Carolina 29205 | Columbia, SC
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Join us for a book talk, dessert potluck, and signing with local queer food activist and baker Justin Burke for his recent book Potluck Desserts: Joyful Recipes to Share with Pride, in conversation with local poet Evelyn Berry.Calling all dessert lovers! Bring a recipe from Potluck Desserts, or another homemade potluck-style dessert, to share. Together we’ll enjoy an evening sweet treats and conversation about baking, queer storytelling, and the power of sharing food to build community. Books will be available for purchase and signing.
If you would like to join in the fun but are not able to bring a dessert, we suggest a $10 donation to Harriet Hancock Center.
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Justin Burke credits his first queer potluck with changing his life. Gathering around a table piled high with homemade food evoked a sense of unity that bridged individuals beyond social norms, where chosen families could gather, share recipes, and connect with one another. Two decades later, that magical night continues to inspire Burke in his work merging his passion for food with his journey of self-discovery, whipping up relatable, homemade desserts that defy traditional labels and hold their own next to their avant-garde counterparts. Now a venerated potluck pro, Burke shares his personal and professional experiences in his debut cookbook, Potluck Desserts, through playful, delicious recipes like Lemon- Thyme Bars, Gooey Butter Corn Cake, Chocolate Cherry Soda Cake, and more. Potluck Desserts gives every home baker the tools, confidence, and pride to serve beloved, nostalgic dishes that everyone will love—colleagues, friends, families, and chosen families included.
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Justin Burke is a food writer, recipe developer, queer food activist, and award-winning pastry chef and baker. He has contributed to publications including Eater, Food & Wine, Garden & Gun, Simply Recipes, Bake from Scratch, and more. Burke makes his home in Columbia, South Carolina, with his husband and son.
Evelyn Berry (she/her) is the trans, Southern author of Grief Slut (Sundress Publications, 2024) and the chapbook Buggery (Bateau Press, 2020). Her chapbook T4T is forthcoming from Small Harbor Publishing in 2026. She is the recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Poetry Fellowship and South Carolina Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship for Poetry. She is trying to learn to bake gluten- free pastries for her wife.
Book cover: Allison Chi / Countryman Press
Justin Burke headshot: Brian Samuels Photography
Evelyn Berry headshot: Jared Johnson
https://allgoodbooks.com/events/3659220251002
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Where is it happening?
734 Harden St., Columbia, SC, United States, South Carolina 29205Event Location & Nearby Stays:
