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Doug Trattner reports: Chef Michael Symon talks new cookbook and bourbon venture

Symon's newest book, 'Simply Symon Suppers: Recipes and Menus for Every Week of the Year,' is co-authored by 3News contributor Doug Trattner.

ROCKY RIVER, Ohio — Chef Michael Symon returned home last week to celebrate two new projects. The Food Network star posted up at Minotti’s Wine & Spirits in Rocky River to host a cookbook signing and bourbon tasting.

Fans lined up down the block for the opportunity to greet the chef, have their books signed, and to sample a wee nip of bourbon.

Last month, Symon’s newest cookbook, "Simply Symon Suppers: Recipes and Menus for Every Week of the Year", was published. It is his eighth cookbook and, as usual, it is co-authored by Cleveland Scene dining editor and 3News contributor Doug Trattner.

Symon's largest collection of recipes to date, "Simply Symon Suppers" (published by Clarkson Potter) offers readers more than 165 recipes spread across 350 beautifully illustrated pages. Many of the recipes were inspired by dishes the chef prepared on "Symon's Dinners Cooking Out," his popular Food Network show filmed at his house in New York.

Not only is this cookbook Symon's largest; it is his most personal. Many of the recipes come straight from his childhood dinner table, his festive holiday celebrations, and his and wife Liz's present-day entertaining collection. Meals like Symon's famous Thanksgiving feast — starring turkey, corn pudding, gravy and dressing — join dishes like American goulash, braciole, corned beef and cabbage, and smoked prime rib.

Bourbon lovers also showed up in support of the River Roots Barrel Company, a Cleveland-based venture geared to whiskey enthusiasts like Symon. Along with partners Michael Boland and Ryan Lintz, he offers shoppers the opportunity to buy bottles of special single-barrel whiskies from America's best distilleries. First up was a cask strength 5-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon.

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