HAVANA, Cuba, Dec 14 Two Cuban books will be competing in next year's Paris Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, an annual contest founded by Edouard Contreau in 1995 to reward the world's best writings on cooking and wine.

The Cuban works selected for the event were “Manual de conservación de alimentos y condimentos por secado solar” (Guide for Food and Spice Preservation by Sun Drying) by Vilda Figueroa and Jose Lama; and “De la chicha a la cerveza Plaza Vieja” (From Chicha to Beer at the Old Square) by Rafael Fernandez Moya.

"Guide..." is the second book co-written by Figueroa and Lama –edited by Olimpia Chong- will represent Cuba at this international contest.

The first one was "Cocina cubana con sabor" (Cuban Cuisine with Flavour) which contained historical data about the Cuban culinary art and more than 700 recipes. It was awarded as the third best book of the world in the category of Television Celebrity.

"Guide..." deals with the principles of sun drying, its environmental impact and drying techniques applied to foodstuffs and aromatic plants. It will compete in the Sustainable Food section.

On the other hand, Moya said his book was included in both the Beer Book and Drink History Book categories, as it describes the story of beer production and consumption in Cuba, starting back in the 18th century.

The results of the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards will be announced March 6, 2012 at the former cabaret and current antiguo cabaret y ahora centro de espectáculos musicales Les Folies Bergeres, in Paris.

The two books will be presented in the Third Cookbooks Festival of Paris, scheduled for March 7-11, which will have China as the guest country and beer as the star product. (acn)