Houdini’s Library Unlocked: A Culinary Journey Through Magic

For ages 21 & up

Step into the fascinating world of Harry Houdini through an experience that blends food, history, and storytelling. In partnership with the Harry Ransom Center, this special demonstration class celebrates the legendary magician's life through a menu inspired by some of his favorite dishes and dining traditions.

While Houdini captivated audiences with feats of illusion and daring escapes, he was also an avid reader, collector, and intellectual. Throughout the evening, guests will explore the man behind the magic, discovering how his travels, personal tastes, and larger-than-life personality shaped the foods he enjoyed.

As our chef prepares a series of dishes inspired by Houdini's table, representatives from the Harry Ransom Center will share stories, historical insights, and fascinating details from Houdini's life and library. Together, food and history come alive, creating a unique opportunity to experience one of America's most enduring cultural icons from an entirely new perspective.

Whether you're a history enthusiast, literary aficionado, magic fan, or simply love great food, this one-of-a-kind collaboration offers an unforgettable evening of culinary exploration, discovery, and wonder.

Demonstration. You will not be cooking in this class. Guests will enjoy generous tastings of all featured dishes. 21 & up. You'll enjoy a glass of wine with your meal.

ABOUT HARRY RANSOM CENTER:

The Harry Ransom Center at The University of Texas at Austin is an internationally renowned humanities research library and museum dedicated to literature, photography, film, art, and the performing arts. Its extraordinary collections include nearly one million books, more than 42 million manuscripts, five million photographs, and 100,000 works of art.

Among its treasures are works by Frida Kahlo, Albert Einstein, Gabriel García Márquez, Jack Kerouac, and Robert De Niro, as well as one of only 20 complete Gutenberg Bibles in the world. Through exhibitions, programs, and research opportunities, the Ransom Center offers visitors a unique window into the creative process and cultural history.

This fall, explore Harry Houdini's Library, a special exhibition featuring books, manuscripts, and artifacts from the legendary magician's personal collection. Discover Houdini not only as a master illusionist, but also as a passionate reader, collector, and lifelong learner.

Harry Houdini's Library will be on view August 29, 2026, through January 24, 2027.

• Crab Stuffed Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce - a savory and spicy combination
• Deviled Eggs - boiled eggs stuffed with whipped and spiced yolk
• Hungarian Chicken Paprikash- a chicken and tomato stew seasoned with paprika
• Sweet Potato Gnocchi- a dumpling made with flour and sweet potato
• Cherry Bread Pudding- a favorite of Houdini's, a rich bread pudding with cherries added in for a twist on traditional classic

Safety & Precautions

• At check-in, you will be asked to sign a waiver before entering the Cooking School.

• For that reason, we ask that all attendees arrive at least 5 minutes prior to the confirmed start time of the class.

For more information about our classes, please click on the links below:

Find FAQs about our in-store classes here.

Find FAQs about your private classes here.