Yotam Ottolenghi, the Israeli-born British chef whose cookbooks helped redefine modern Middle Eastern cuisine, is coming to Houston for a culinary conversation presented by the Society for the Performing Arts. The presentation at Wortham Center’s Cullen Theater will be moderated by James Beard Award-winning chef Chris Shepherd, and a portion of ticket sales will be donated to Southern Smoke, the crisis relief organization Shepherd founded.

Ottolenghi will talk about the pleasures of food and eating as an act that brings people together. Brazos Books will be at the event selling signed cookbooks by Ottolenghi and Shepherd.