Food events at the L.A. Times Festival of Books

There’s going to be a whole lot of cooking going on at the 17th annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books on the USC campus Saturday and Sunday. In fact, there’s an entire stage devoted to it.

Saturday will kick off with Ink’s Michael Voltaggio at 10:30 a.m., followed by “Top Chef’s” Gail Simmons at 12:30 p.m. Voltaggio will return to the stage at 2 p.m., along with Mozza’s Nancy Silverton, to discuss the Southern California food scene with Los Angeles Times Deputy Food Editor Betty Hallock. Finally, at 3:30 p.m., Anne Burrell will demonstrate recipes from her book “Cook Like a Rock Star.”

Sunday’s program at the cooking stage will feature Mélisse chef Josiah Citrin at 11 a.m., San Francisco chef Chris Cosentino at 12:30 p.m., “Seoultown Kitchen’s” Debbie Lee at 2 p.m. and chocolate maven Alice Medrich at 3:30 p.m.

There will also be a pair of panel discussions on topics related to food. Times Food Editor Russ Parsons will lead a panel on food justice and other issues with authors Julie Guthman (“Weighing In”), Kathleen Flinn (“The Kitchen Counter Cooking School”) and Tracie McMillan (“The American Way of Eating”) at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Seeley G. Mudd Buildling.

And at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in Ronald Tutor Campus Center, Times restaurant critic Jonathan Gold will discuss “Food Writing: American Potluck” with Gustavo Arellano (“Taco USA”), Jennifer 8. Lee (“The Fortune Cookie Chronicles”) and Aaron Bobrow-Strain (“White Bread: The History of a Store-Bought Loaf”). At 11:45 a.m. Saturday, Times Test Kitchen manager Noelle Carter will talk about her favorite cookbooks at the Los Angeles Times Booth.

All of the cooking demonstrations and panels are free. For more information, visit events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks.

—Times staff writer