Signin’ and Samplin’ with Paul Canonici is April 26 at the Mississippi History Store

On Saturday, April 26, the Mississippi History Store will have a special day with author Paul Canonici.

From 10 a.m. to 12:30 Canonici will sign copies of his newest book, So Italian: Traditional Recipes with My Art and Travel Notes, and dishes made with recipes from the book will be served.

So Italian is filled with sketches and watercolors by the author as well as tales from his time spent in Italy in search of traditional recipes like those brought to America by immigrants a century ago. Canonici will prepare bruschetta and crostini, eggplant slices with tomato and mozzarella, and ricotta tarts for the event.

Canonici grew up in the Delta the son of Italian immigrants. Following a career as priest and educator, he now spends much of his time traveling, writing, painting, and cooking. In 2005 he published The Delta Italians, a history of that group’s struggle for survival on the cotton plantations of Arkansas and Mississippi. The Delta Italians and So Italian are for sale at the Mississippi History Store.

The Mississippi History Store—formerly the Old Capitol Shop—offers one of the state's finest collections of folk art, local crafts, and books by and about Mississippians. The store is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the William F. Winter Archives and History Building, corner of North and Amite streets.

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History is the second-oldest state department of archives and history in the United States. The department collects, preserves, and provides access to the archival resources of the state, administers various museums and historic sites, and oversees statewide programs for historic preservation, state and local government records management, and publications. The department is headquartered in the state-of-the-art William F. Winter Archives and History Building, located on the corner of North and Amite Streets in downtown Jackson. For more information call 601-576-6850 or see the MDAH Web site, www.mdah.state.ms.us.