Explore every episode of the podcast Everything Cookbooks
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 186: A Different Way to Publish with Ken Albala | 28 oct. 2026 | 00:45:52 | |
Kate and Molly speak with historian and professor Ken Albala about his varied publishing experiences and newest book, The World Atlas of Fermented Food and Drinks. Ken, the author of 30 books, bridges scholarship and food within geographic, historical and cultural contexts. He tells us how he balances teaching, writing, research and hobbies, the classes and programs he's run and how the publishing landscape has shifted in recent years. He takes us behind the scenes of some of his books and shares his experiences with different publishing models— popular and academic—including why one works over the other for specific projects. Finally he reveals of few of the more unconventional dishes he's created and leaves us with his dream book topic. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Ken Albala
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| 185: Food Blog to Bestselling Cookbook with Rebecca Eisenberg | 21 oct. 2026 | 00:47:58 | |
Kristin and Molly speak with previous Insider Series guest, Rebecca Eisenberg, about her evolution from blogger to author. After working in media for years, she eventually decided to write for herself and talks about turning The Practical Kitchen blog into a business and all that entailed. Ever practical and operating under the mantra 'do it messy, clean it later', she learned on the job and shares what her day to day looks like now, how she addressed going viral and the work it takes to keep up with the ever shifting demands of SEO, the algorithm and AI. Rebecca discusses her decision to write a book based on only a subset of her blog topics and the behind the scenes experience of crafting a proposal, getting an agent, going to auction, selecting a publisher and then the work of recipe testing, writing and photographing. Finally, she talks about her innovative and interactive marketing campaign and the lessons learned from her first cookbook experience. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Rebecca Eisenberg
6 Tips for Feeding and Discarding Sourdough Starter Purchase a recording of Rebecca's Insider Series here Subscribe to our weekly Substack newsletter for more information about each episode and a peek at what's coming up.
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 184: When Friends Make a Cookbook with Andrea Nguyen and Pim Techamuanvivit | 14 oct. 2026 | 00:50:37 | |
We're turning the hosting reins over to Charlotte Druckman today to learn about Andrea Nguyen and Pim Techamuanvivit's experience collaborating on their new 'instant classic' cookbook, Cooking Thai. Pim shares her original idea for the book, how it evolved and the mission statement she settled on while Andrea explains why she felt drawn to work on her first collaboration with this project. They speak about recipe testing, the writing process and how they worked together, speaking on task division, communication styles and working through tension to create a product they're immensely proud of. Pim and Andrea each share what they learned from the other, how they challenged each other, the books they were inspired by and how they landed on an approachable yet educational tone before leaving us with some advice and a sneak peak.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Charlotte Druckman Pim Techamuanvivit Andrea Nguyen
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| 183: Culture Bending Cookbook Making with Joyce Tang and Soleil Ho | 07 oct. 2026 | 00:35:29 | |
Kate and Andrea speak with cookbook collaborators Joyce Tang and Soleil Ho about their new cookbook, Bake Sum. Joyce shares her journey from project manager to bakery owner to cookbook writer and why she wanted to write this book at this time. She describes how she got connected to Soleil who speaks about how working on cookbooks tends to be a relaxing break from running a media company. They share how they divvied up the work, the decision to include stories and histories in the project and insights behind the cover image. Joyce describes the recipe testing process and the challenge to 'smallerize' recipes while Soleil talks about the book's unique organization before they each share their thoughts on working through an 'Asian Americana' lens. Finally they share the audience they hope the book reaches and the lessons they each learned along the way. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Joyce Tang
Soleil Ho
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Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 182: Cookbook Design with Frances Abrantes Baca | 30 sept. 2026 | 00:42:39 | |
Kate and Kristin speak with Frances Abrantes Baca about her wide ranging design experience in the food media space. The founding design director of the award winning magazine Gastronimica, Frances shares her thoughts about the design elements that go into a cookbook—color, contrast, titles, page numbers, typeface, layout, covers, spines and, don't forget the table of contents. She discusses what catches her eye, what the differences in specific design roles are and where she finds inspiration before revealing what design choices draw her in and which drive her nuts. She talks about her newsletter, her process and leaves us with a few ideas and tips for authors and aspiring designers both. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Frances Abrantes Baca
Episode 18: Pro Tips from Cookbook Critic Paula Forbes Episode 11: Understanding Cookbook Design with Alice Chau Episode 91: The UX of Cookbook Design
The Elements of Typographic Style by Robert Bringhurst What Makes a Cookbook Cover Successful? Bay Area Women in Publishing Mentorship
Subscribe to our weekly Substack newsletter for more information about each episode and a peek at what's coming up. Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 181: Debbie Berne on Cookbooking: A Fan's Guide | 23 sept. 2026 | 00:44:44 | |
This episode is quite special. In fall 2025, Kristin and Kate spoke with longtime book designer Debbie Berne about her work in progress, Cookbooking: A Fan's Guide. She told us about the book in 2024, and we knew back then that it was a book for us. Author Michael Chabon called it a “theme-park ride through Cookbookland" — and he's right: the book is crammed with stories about food fads, hippy cooking, books for dudes, cooking "bibles," and so much more. While Debbie was writing Cookbooking, she was also grappling with a form of incurable brain cancer. We recorded this interview when we did so she could tell us about the book in her own words. She passed away in December 2025, but her indomitable spirt and humor lives on in the pages of Cookbooking. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Debbie Berne
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| 180: What's the Deal with Cookbook Publishing? | 16 sept. 2026 | 00:42:42 | |
Welcome to Season 10! Kate, Kristin, Andrea and Molly discuss the upcoming fall cookbook season and some of their thoughts about the current publishing landscape. They talk about price hikes and cookbook sales, AI recipes and their appreciation for the human touch and some of the obstacles that publishing is currently encountering. They share their thoughts and musings about what they see as the ups and downs in the wider world of books, and within the niche corner of cookbooks, before getting celebrating their new releases and upcoming projects. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Episode 144: The Author-Agent Relationship with Peter J. Kim and David Black Episode 62: Single Subject Cookbooks with Martha Holmberg Episode 178: Comic Book Cookbooks with Sarah Becan Episode 135: The Manuscript is In. Now What? with Martin Sorge Not so Secret Agent with Sally Ekus Headnotes with Frances Baca Cookbookery Collective with Jenna Helwig The Dinner Plan with Maggie Hoffman Has the Restaurant Cookbook Boom Gone Bust? Subscribe to our weekly Substack newsletter for more information about each episode and a peek at what's coming up.
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| Live from Cookbook Week | 09 sept. 2026 | 00:45:43 | |
This is a live conversation recorded in April 2026 during the first Cookbook Week in San Francisco, a city-wide event co-founded by Brian Hogan Stewart (of the Salt + Spine podcast), Jodi Liano, and Leslie Jonath. Here, Leslie leads the conversation with Jenny Wapner, publisher of Hardie Grant North America, and Kate Leahy, an author, to discuss all things cookbooks. Jenny and Kate share how they got their start, what their day to day tasks look like and the recent projects that have most resonated with them. They all speak about the frantic, trend-focused nature of publishing, how the current political climate can affect a book and those glorious instances of unexpected success that keep them excited about the industry. The panelists highlight a few of their recent favorite projects and end by taking a few questions from the audience. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Brian Hogan Stewart
Episode 65: Podcasting about Cookbooks with Brian Hogan Stewart Episode 145: Eva Kolenko on Photographing Cookbooks Subscribe to our weekly Substack newsletter for more information about each episode and a peek at what's coming up.
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 115: Cookbook Trends [re-release] | 02 sept. 2026 | 00:36:26 | |
Happy New Year! Molly, Kristin, Kate and Andrea take a look at the past year in cookbooks and share their thoughts on the trends they predict for 2025. They discuss how the pandemic affected the cookbook market, how they see production costs and finances changing and share some insights from editors and agents about what publishers are looking for in 2025 (hint: platform!). They talk about speciality markets, single subject expertise, branded and restaurant books before sharing a few teasers of our upcoming season. [Originally aired 1/1/2025] Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions 110: Sarah Fennel on bringing an online platform to the page
Subscribe to our weekly Substack newsletter for more information about each episode and a peek at what's coming up. Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show | |||
| 102: Lara Hamilton of Book Larder [re-release] | 26 août 2026 | 00:51:00 | |
Molly and Kate speak with Lara Hamilton, the owner of Book Larder Seattle's community cookbook store. Lara shares the motivations behind opening the store, why Seattle was the perfect base and how she sees the connection between food and books. We learn the origins behind the name, location and design of the store as well as some behind the scenes insights into ordering, event planning and curating its unique selection. Lara talks about her thoughts on trends, author platforms and building a space that is a must stop on author tour before revealing her most anticipated Fall titles. [Originally aired 9/25/2024] Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Book Larder
Book Larder Podcast: Molly Stevens Book Larder Podcast: Kate Leahy
Subscribe to our weekly Substack newsletter for more information about each episode and a peek at what's coming up. Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 101: Pumpkin Spice and Hot Takes [re-release] | 19 août 2026 | 00:46:23 | |
We're back and starting off Season 6 with grab bag of topics with all our hosts. Kristin, Molly, Kate and Andrea discuss the pros and cons of the (potentially overfull) Fall cookbook season and how to emotionally prepare but keep expectations realistic on pub day while prioritizing celebration. We share our insights and experiences on contracts, printed errors, correction pages and wade into some existential territory as we discuss optional ingredients in recipe writing before diving back into one of our favorite topics, platform. Finally, we talk about the the current cookbook trends we're loving, upcoming releases we're looking forward to and court some potential controversy with our thoughts on pumpkin spice. [Originally aired 9/18/2024] Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions The Bojon Gourmet Pumpkin Spice Mix Cookbook Chronicles: The Science and Art and of Recipe Development, by Martin Sorge If Desired, by Joy Manning The Truth About Platform, by Kathleen Schmidt
52: Matt Sartwell of Kitchen Arts and Letters 100: Advice from Our Listeners and Season 5 Wrap-Up 42: How to Write Recipe Titles 93: The Secret of Cooking with Bee Wilson 69: Writing a Menu Cookbook with Amy Thielen Subscribe to our weekly Substack newsletter for more information about each episode and a peek at what's coming up.
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 89: Insights From Cookbook Editor Sarah Kwak of Harvest [re-release] | 12 août 2026 | 00:35:42 | |
Molly and Kristin speak with Sarah Kwak, a senior editor at Harvest an imprint of Harper Collins, to find out what the editing process is like. Sarah shares how she ended up at her current role, the focus Harvest has for cookbooks and what authors should keep mind regarding their proposal assembly before submission. She discusses her thoughts on comp titles, overcoming past book sales, multifaceted ways to grow a platform and what compels her to spend over two years working on a specific project. Finally, she talks about trends in the food world, the changes in the economy of publishing and her advice along with the books she is excited to release this year. [Originally aired 5/8/2024] Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Harvest an imprint of Harper Collins Episode 09: Cookbook Editing Tips from Jennifer Sit Episode 48: Abi Balingit on Learning as You Go Subscribe to our weekly Substack newsletter for more information about each episode and a peek at what's coming up Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 75: Food Trends: Do They Matter When You Write a Cookbook? [re-release] | 05 août 2026 | 00:38:21 | |
In our last episode of 2023, Kate, Kristin and Molly discuss food trends and how they apply to the cookbook world. Whether it's butter boards, nacho tables, "girl dinner" or baked potato bars these stunt foods can loom large yet die quickly in the public consciousness. They discuss ideas on identifying trends, how to capitalize on them and the importance of keeping a variety of demographics in mind when working on "trendy" topics. Finally, we list some things we're looking forward to in 2024. [Originally aired 12/27/2023] Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Kristin Donnelly's Cookbook Proposal Class Subscribe to our weekly Substack newsletter for more information about each episode and a peek at what's coming up Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 179: Answering Your Cookbook Questions | 29 juil. 2026 | 00:42:46 | |
The whole team, Kate, Kristin, Molly and Andrea, recap a few of their favorite episodes from this past season and answer listener questions. They chat about their mixed feelings for copy editors, the discussions they had about a recent Instagram story about recipe writing rigor and call out what they learned from a few recent interviews. The hosts then open up the mail bag and give their answers on recipe adaption and attribution, the idea of 'picking brains', including previously published dishes in a book and share how they add some flourish to their own book signings. Before signing off they shout-out an upcoming virtual event and share a note about what listeners can expect during our summer hiatus. See you in September for Season 10! Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Subscribe to our weekly Substack newsletter for more information about each episode and a peek at what's coming up. 174: On Being a Copyeditor with Melissa Haskin 170: Becoming a Food Photographer While Writing a Debut Cookbook with Saeng Douangdara 172: Blurbs: Do They Actually Matter? 177: Collective Book Studio with Angela Engel and Amy Treadwell IACP Talk with Kate Leahy and Abby Cerquitella on August 19, 2026
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 178: Comic Book Cookbooks with Sarah Becan | 22 juil. 2026 | 00:53:16 | |
Molly and Kate speak with Sarah Becan about her illustrator origin story. She explains her early love for sequential storytelling, the book that inspired her to create her own work and what drew her to food as a topic. She shares her love for the medium, how she got into the cookbook sphere by first partnering with a local restaurant and why she eventually decided to work solo. An avid lover and participant in the comic community, Sarah takes us step by step through her creative process; selecting the right recipes to illustrate and all of the considerations involved, the decision to drawing digitally or by hand along with all of the specs, editing, timeline, tools and workflow that happen behind the scenes. She discusses the pros and cons of writing solo or with a partner, why she developed her own typeface and leaves us with some advice for aspiring illustrators and comic artists. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Sara Becan A Brief History of Graphic Cookbooks, by Charlotte Druckman in the Washington Post Subscribe to our weekly Substack newsletter for more information about each episode and a peek at what's coming up.
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 177: Collective Book Studio with Angela Engel and Amy Treadwell | 15 juil. 2026 | 00:47:27 | |
Molly and Kate go behind the scenes of a partnership publishing house as they speak about the Cookbook Collective with its founder, Angela Engel, and its editorial director, Amy Treadwell. Angela shares a bit of her background and her impetus for creating a more collaborative publishing model before walking us through some industry terms as she banishes stigma and describes the differences in her approach. Amy tells us how she got involved with the collective, what she tackles on the editorial side and how this changes her working relationship with authors. They both speak about the partnership and custom avenues, how they differ from traditional publishing and give us a broad overview of the process of expenses, distribution, submissions, acquisitions, design and drive before leaving us with a thought on the special, unique story that a physical cookbook can communicate. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Episode 02: Do You Need a Cookbook Agent? Episode 148: Heartland Masala with Jyoti Mukharji & Auyon Mukharji Episode 56: Hybrid Publishing with Vasudha Viswanath
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 176: The Author-Editor Relationship with Alana Kysar and Kelly Snowden | 08 juil. 2026 | 00:47:15 | |
Kate and Molly speak with author Alana Kysar and her editor Kelly Snowden about their professional relationship after working on two cookbooks together. Alana shares why she initially didn't think she had a second book in her and what she hopes this new vegetable focused book adds to the Hawaiian food conversation. Kelly talks about first connecting with Alana's proposal, the elements she brought to the project and the timeline of the process. Both of them discuss the lessons learned from book one and how they helped in the sequel's creation, how they worked together and some best practices for a strong, continuing working relationship. Alana talks about the recipe selection and testing, the design and structural decisions and the approachability of her photography while Kelly explains her thoughts on option clauses, comp titles and what she sees as her mission while working on a book. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Alana Kysar
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 175: Inside Ella Quittner’s Obsession with the Best | 01 juil. 2026 | 00:44:26 | |
Kristin and Molly speak with writer Ella Quittner about her new book, Obsessed with the Best, and the work and intent behind it. They get right into the nitty gritty details of the book; its origins, proposal, the research and testing involved and its unorthodox release date and promotional experience. Ella talks about blending personal stories and journalistic research, the vast testing process and how it was organized and a peek at her cookbook collection and its own organization. She takes listeners through the photography and design choices, the editing and formatting decisions and finally leaves us with how the experience of commodifying herself has led her to a more thoughtful, intentional approach to future projects. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Ella Quittner
Taste podcast interview with Ella Quittner Cherry Bombe Radio interview with Ella Quittner Milk Street Radio interview with Ella Quittner Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 174: On Being a Copyeditor with Melissa Haskin | 24 juin 2026 | 00:42:15 | |
Molly and Kristin invite our very first copy editor to the show, Melissa Haskin. Melissa talks about getting started in the editing profession, her love of food writing and how her experience working with magazines like Cooking Light informs her work now. The hosts share some of their personal experiences and thoughts about copy editing and Melissa shares her own process and approach— the tiny details she looks for, the red flags she knows to avoid and the programs she uses to work. She discusses what it takes to be a good editor, what she's learned running her own freelance business and the projects she does, and does not, take on. Finally she tells us her favorite parts of the job and what led her to create an entire course on recipe editing. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Melissa Haskin
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Go to our Substack to find two downloads from Melissa: 1) A recipe editing reading list and 2) A self-editing checklist for cookbook authors. POSTSCRIPT: During our interview, Melissa mispoke and cited a Susan Williams as her mentor at Cooking Light. It was Susan McWilliams. Melissa also misheard Kristin’s question about professional editor groups. She is part of many such groups, but none that specialize in cookbooks. In characteristic copyeditor fashion, Melissa sent us these corrections immediately upon hearing the episode.
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| 173: Writing a Narrative Cookbook Tanya Bush | 17 juin 2026 | 00:46:51 | |
Molly and Kate speak with Tanya Bush, the author of Will This Make You Happy, about her cookbook/memoir mashup and how the pandemic contributed to her decision to marry a personal story and a technical text. Tanya shares some the life experiences behind the book, her impetus to create and the themes she wanted to explore as well as the process of getting an agent, earning an MFA and how the project shifted since its origins. We get into her thoughts on why she wanted to write this particular blend of genres, how the recipes, the book's design and her real life experiences fit in and how important critical distance and play are to her voice. Finally she hits on her hopes for the work, the audio version and potential adaptations and a few thoughts on her print magazine, Cake Zine. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Food Friends Podcast Newsletter Episode 162: The one in which we issue an apology and answer listener questions
Tanya Bush
Why We Can't Stop Reading — and Writing — Food Diaries, Hannah Goldfield, The New Yorker Clare Mao, agent
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 172: Blurbs: Do They Actually Matter? | 10 juin 2026 | 00:46:49 | |
Kristin speaks with hosts Molly, Andrea and Kate about blurbs; the good, the bad and the questionable. The hosts define the term and share their first blurbing experiences before chatting about the purpose and goal behind these endorsements. They talk about a blurb's swaying power, what makes a good one, how to know if it is trustworthy and the etiquette and process of soliciting, editing and including them in the finished product. They each discuss their experiences on both sides of the request, their thoughts on how a blurb affects sales and the role they see the author, editor and PR team playing before getting into some of the practical procedures and personal relationships involved when creating a list of hopeful 'blurbists'. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions "Blurb Your Enthusiasm" by Sally Ekus "We Need to Talk About Blurbs" by Kathleen Schmidt "Are Publishers Dropping Blurbs?" by Lisa Tener "Here's How Social Media Is Changing Book Blurbs" (NPR, May 2025) "Author Blurbs: Do They Matter?" by Alessandra Torre Ink Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 171: Crowdfunding Your Cookbook with Nandita Godbole | 03 juin 2026 | 00:42:46 | |
Kate and Kristin speak all about crowdfunding with Nandita Godbole, who has fully funded seven books (and counting) through Kickstarter. Nandita shares how it all began, from her wildly successful supper club to funding her first book in just a few days and takes us through the details, ups and downs and pros and cons of going this route. She speaks about finding her audience, why she decided to self-publish, how she learned the technical specs and what the driving mission behind her projects is. This approach takes an immense amount of work for quality control, design choices and even hands-on mailing, and Nandita's persistence and perseverance has gotten her through stolen laptops, co-opted ideas and immense challenges. She leaves us with lovely and sage advice for others curious about crowdfunding and gives us a little peek into what's next. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Nandita Godbole Food Friends Podcast Newsletter Kitchen Arts & Letters (Matt Sartwell)
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show | |||
| 170: Becoming a Food Photographer While Writing a Debut Cookbook with Saeng Douangdara | 27 mai 2026 | 00:45:11 | |
Molly and Kristin speak with Saeng Douangdara, a personal chef and academic counselor turned online content creator and now, cookbook author and food photographer. Saeng shares what motivated him ten years ago to get into the online food space, why he wanted to show off Lao cuisine and how he's built up an audience and community during that time. His refreshing approach means he doesn't dilute or censor his interests and instead continues to challenge himself to learn and grow. This mindset came into play when he 'manifested' his cookbook, took on the daunting prospect of learning professional food photography on the job and collaborated with the writing and typography elements of the book. Saeng discusses why he wanted to create a book that acts as a Lao food primer and a way to share personal stories along with the recipes and leaves us with some sage advice and a look at how this book accomplishes some of his earliest goals. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Saeng Douangdara
Food Friends Podcast Newsletter
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 169: Kathy Gunst on What It Takes to Host a Food Writing Retreat | 20 mai 2026 | 00:48:16 | |
Kristin and Molly speak with Kathy Gunst, a prolific cookbook author, teacher and now leader of food writing retreats, about her varied career and new project. Kathy shares how she got started in the food world by attending London's Le Cordon Bleu, what it is like being the resident chef for NPR's Here & Now and how she deals with creative burnout. She explains the ins and outs of running a writers retreat; the logistics, planning, travel and teaching that goes on behind the scenes and how much she's taken to this new venture. She gives us insights about how the retreat is set up, the way students respond, learn and grow their confidence and the types of writing she likes to foster. She leaves us with advice and a call for writers to invest in themselves, their talent and their future. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Kathy Gunst
Food Friends Podcast Newsletter Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 168: Domenica Marchetti on Italian Cookies | 13 mai 2026 | 00:50:19 | |
Kate and Molly speak with Domenica Marchetti about her newest book and finding a niche in the crowded Italian cookbook category. Domenica shares how she got her start as a food writer, bringing her journalistic background and other interests and experiences together in a unique way, and then talks about the personal importance of some of her early work. She gets into how a cookie captured her imagination, inspiring this new cookbook all about the history, stories and bakeries that create singular Italian cookies. We discuss her research, recipe development and writing process as well as the adventure of baking all of the cookies for the photoshoot (!). And we conclude with a discussion about how her newsletter figures into her professional life. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Domenica Marchetti
Glorious Soups and Stews of Italy, by Domenica Marchetti Food Friends Podcast Newsletter
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 167: Ifrah F. Ahmed on the Making of Soomaaliya | 06 mai 2026 | 00:47:07 | |
Kate and Kristin speak with Ifrah F. Ahmed about how the culmination of her expertise in a culture and a cuisine led to her debut cookbook, Soomaaliya. Ifrah shares how a trip to Somalia inspired her to leave law school, create a magazine dedicated to Somali women and start a wildly successful pop-up before turning her attention towards a book. She takes us through her deeply intentional cookbook process from coming up with the idea, getting an agent, writing the proposal, the drama of a publisher auction to the writing, recipe development, photography and design process. She talks about her goal, her primary audience and their reactions as well as how she decided to weave together history, interviews, personal essays with the recipes. Finally she touches on her decision of how much of herself to include in the book and the very special interactions she's had while writing it. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Food Friends Podcast Newsletter This Is TASTE 728: A Delicious Deep Dive Into Somali Food with Ifrah F. Ahmed Somali Cuisine by Barlin Ali Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 166: Natasha Pickowicz on Writing the Second Book | 29 avr. 2026 | 00:49:04 | |
Kate and Andrea speak with cookbook author Natasha Pickowicz about her second book, how it differed from her first and what she learned during the process. Natasha takes us on her journey from the kitchen to the keyboard as she talks about how her first book came to be, the false starts it went through and the role the pandemic played in its evolution. She then shares some behind the scenes on her second book; how publishers reacted to her topic shift, its structure, the historical inclusions and its single subject concentration. We learn about working with her parents on the book, how it deepened their connection and what they each brought to the project. Natasha gets into the challenges of the photoshoot, how she created recipes for a 'recipe-less' meal and what she's learned this time around before leaving us with some advice for other writers embarking on their sophomore books. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Episode 150: Entertaining Cookbooks Natasha Pickowicz Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 165: Inside the Alison Roman and Britt Cobb Design Universe | 22 avr. 2026 | 00:58:58 | |
Andrea and Molly speak with Alison Roman and Britt Cobb, the designer of her new book, Something from Nothing about their collaboration. Alison speaks about her unique approach to her work, how she leans into personhood instead of branding and why this new book is different than her previous works. Alison and Britt describe how they connected and then get into the nitty gritty of working together; from the idea phase to the process of choosing everything from font styles, cover color, pairing illustrations with photography to trim size, prop selection and paper texture. They each share their views on the longevity and tactile nature of book creation and some insights on their design choices, tastes and ideas. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions How Not To Write a Cookbook, by Brooks Headley in Bon Appétit Alison Roman Chris Bernabeo, photographer Rosie McGuinness, illustrator The Skinny Font Taking Over Tech Companies and the White House - The Wall Street Journal
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| 164: Being a Cookbook Editor with Rachel Brown of Appetite | 15 avr. 2026 | 00:40:36 | |
Molly and Kate speak with Rachel Brown, acquisitions editor at Appetite, an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada, about her career journey and insights into the Canadian cookbook landscape. Rachel talks about her education and early editing experience before taking us behind the scenes about Appetite titles specifically. She shares what types of books they publish, how the team works, what they are looking for in a proposal and how Canadian readers love to support local authors. She talks about working with other countries' markets, the upcoming books she is excited about and the themes she'd like to see more of before leaving us with a few words of advice for those who aspire to work in the editing sphere. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions 136: Cooking the Food of Nigeria with Ozoz Sokoh Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 163: Before the Recipes: Cookbook Introductions and Front Matter | 08 avr. 2026 | 00:46:35 | |
To kick off Season 9 Molly, Andrea, Kate and Kristin discuss e-cookbooks vs physical editions before diving into front matter; all of the sections of a cookbook that come before the recipes. They talk about the purpose, process and planning that goes into the preface, prologue, forward, introduction and pantry section and ask whether these are even necessary. Each of them talk about their own experiences and approach to front matter as well as the unique ways other books have utilized these sections. They speak about the differences between the sections, their frustrations and rejections, how front matter has evolved and the importance of being creative and (sometimes) going rogue to keep readers interested and not intimidated to dive into the rest of the book. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Why the Cookbook Endures by Shaan Merchant in Taste Episode 28: All About Recipe Headnotes Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 95: Recipe Writing with Real Cooks in Mind [re-release] | 01 avr. 2026 | 00:52:27 | |
Originally aired on June 19, 2024 Kate, Kristin and Molly venture back into the user experience arena as they discuss recipe presentation in cookbooks. They highlight the need for this section to delight not distract and prioritize form over function as well as the need to write with a specific audience in mind. They discuss their thoughts as a consumer and developer on elements like: ingredients, equipment, serving size, prep time, method, sub-recipes, headnotes and bursts. Finally, they share their advice for recipe developers on things to think through and ways to research to bring clarity and individuality to their own work. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 28: All About Recipe Headnotes [re-release] | 25 mars 2026 | 00:42:02 | |
Originally aired on November 9, 2022 Today, Andrea tackles the topic of the ever elusive headnote with Molly, Kate and Kristin. They discuss what a headnote is, how they go about writing them and the pitfalls to avoid while composing. They bring examples of some favorites and also their pet peeves as they chat about the format, design and variety that goes into these important cookbook ingredients. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Kristin's newsletter - Mission Dinner
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| 42: How to Write Recipe Titles [re-release] | 18 mars 2026 | 00:45:57 | |
Originally aired on February 22, 2023 Kate talks with Molly, Andrea and Kristin all about recipe titles. They share what makes one stand out, what is an immediate veto and how these have evolved over the years. They discuss the importance of indexing, the challenge of translation and how grammar, structure and formatting are used in titling along with some of their own that they'd like to revisit.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show | |||
| 06: Getting Your Recipes in Shape with Tina Ujlaki [re-release] | 11 mars 2026 | 00:26:09 | |
Originally aired on April 20, 2022 Kristin gets into the fundamentals of recipe writing as she chats with Tina Ujlaki, her mentor and the former executive editor at Food & Wine magazine. Tina explains her recipe writing philosophy, how testing can be the antithesis to cooking and the what bothers her about the format's evolution. She shares her thoughts on voice, headnotes, titles and the top 3 things to do before sharing recipes with the world. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly Editor: Abby Cerquitella Mentions
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show | |||
| 05: Getting Started Writing Your Recipes [re-release] | 04 mars 2026 | 00:42:48 | |
Originally aired on April 13, 2022 Kate leads today's discussion about the recipe development, curation and testing that go into creating a cookbook. Andrea, Molly and Kristin each share their individual recipe writing processes and the tools used behind the scenes to keep everything organized. They discuss sticking to theme, finding your audience and what can take away from the magic of cooking as well as the juggling act of attribution and importance of recipe testers. Finally, Molly tells us about a recent cookbook that has her inspired. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions:
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 162: The one in which we issue an apology and answer listener questions | 25 févr. 2026 | 00:34:38 | |
Kate, Molly, Andrea and Kristin begin the episode with an apology about a technical snafu that plagued our website's Contact page and some corrections. They go through some listener questions and discuss copyeditors and the other roles editors can play, share advice, ideas, theories and encouragements about a range of topics, share insights on how to survive the submission process and thoughts on genre mash-ups. This episode closes out Season 8 but we'll be back very soon with Season 9! Thank you for listening and participating! Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Kristin Donnelly's Cookbook Coaching Services Will This Make You Happy, by Tanya Bush KitchenBookshelf on Instagram CultFlave on YouTube The Marketing Hustle Podcast Episode 70: Building a Global Brand Without Paid Media: The CMO behind Ottolenghi’s Growth Strategy Episode 137: Being a Cookbook Editor with Sarah Billingsley of Chronicle Books Episode 158: Cookbook Marketing and Publicity with Brianne Sperber and Felix Cruz Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 161: A Journalist's Approach to Cookbook Collaboration with Korsha Wilson | 18 févr. 2026 | 00:43:46 | |
Kristin and Molly speak with journalist and cookbook co-author Korsha Wilson about her experiences in the world of food media. Korsha shares the magazine that sparked her initial interest, her educational approach and a behind the scenes look at some of her projects. She talks about her evolving views on recipes, what her hopes are for her work and how she approaches the research portion of a project. She discusses weaving together the design and content portions of a book, the process of mimicking voices in a collaboration along with establishing her own before sharing some freelancing insights and a peek into her upcoming project, ending the episode with advice she has for aspiring food writers. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Korsha Wilson
What a Food Trip to Ghana Taught Me About My Black American Identity, by Korsha Wilson Episode 108: Live at Cookbook Fest: Toriano Gordon and Anna Voloshnya Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 160: A Mindful Cookbook Born from Burnout with Nicki Sizemore | 11 févr. 2026 | 00:48:01 | |
Molly and Kristin speak about merging the physical act of cooking with emotional and spiritual intentionality with Nicki Sizemore, the author of Mind, Body, Spirit, Food. Nicki shares her personal journey and the life changing process she went through that eventually led to this new focus. Battling creative burnout and the uninspired work of writing for the algorithm, Nicki learned to tune into her body, prioritize pleasure and get creative which eventually transformed her blog into a newsletter, podcast and this book. She talks about the thought behind its specific release date, the innovative recipe variations, mindful intentions, design and photography process and her aversion to the word 'wellness'. She then discusses her thoughts on audience outreach, promotion, the power of intentionality and the ripple effect of nourishment before leaving us with some advice. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Nicki Sizemore
These Cookbooks Explore the Link Between Mindful Cooking and Self-Care by Jamie Feldmar
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 159: Silk Roads with Anna Ansari | 04 févr. 2026 | 00:54:34 | |
Molly and Kate speak with Anna Ansari, a London based Iranian American writer, about her new book Silk Roads and the major career shift that brought it about. A former customs attorney, Anna takes us from her childhood in Michigan to a stint in Beijing where she discovered Uyghur cuisine and how a move to the UK precipitated an interest in cooking and food writing. She shares how she got interested in this particular topic and geographic location, what the research process was like and what went into crafting her writing voice. She explains the thought behind the pitch and proposal, the process of recipe curation and research and why she decided to package the book the way it is before touching on the marketing and promotion strategy and what she is working on next. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Anna Ansari
Bibliography for Silk Roads (scroll to the bottom) MiGrateful organization Silk Roads: A Flavor Odyssey with Recipes from Baku to Beijing, by Anna Ansari Home Food, Olia Hercules Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 158: Cookbook Marketing and Publicity with Brianne Sperber and Felix Cruz | 28 janv. 2026 | 00:49:37 | |
Kristin and Kate get the inside scoop on all things marketing and publicity as they speak to the 'dream team' who worked on Kristin's recent book Turtle Island. Brianne Sperber and Felix Cruz — associate director of marketing for Clarkson Potter and Ten Speed Press and publicist for the same— discuss their specific roles and approaches to cookbook promotion. They touch on the differences between marketing and publicity, the role events have in promoting a book and share a peek behind the curtain at the decisions, meetings, timeline and teams that go into a project. They share invaluable insights into their thought process, what authors can contribute to a campaign and how they hope to work with them throughout the long game and moment to moment demands of a media blitz. They speak about tailoring messaging to an audience, the cheerleading role they often play and how they approach a collaborative relationship with all the moving parts involved in a book's life span. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Episode 36: Celebrating Colombia with Mariana Velásquez
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 157: Helen Goh on Baking and the Meaning of Life | 21 janv. 2026 | 00:46:24 | |
Andrea and Kate speak with Helen Goh about her thirty years of working in the food and hospitality industry and why she chose now to write her first solo book. She speaks about her time working with the Ottolenghi brand, her hesitation at embarking on a solo venture and the pros and cons of working alone or partnered. She's had many evolutions in the personal and professional spheres and talks about finding freedom in her work and her thoughts behind this book; its title, organization and how her psychology background informed its creation. She ends by sharing what baking means to her— its role in rituals and traditions— and ends with her experience juggling both of her careers, the cerebral and the tangible. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Helen Goh Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 156: Writing History Through Recipes with Jessica B. Harris | 14 janv. 2026 | 00:46:48 | |
Molly and Andrea speak with the iconic culinary historian Dr. Jessica B. Harris about her career and newest work, Braided Heritage. After discussing the 'more' than recipes that make a cookbook a cookbook, Dr. Harris also shares why this book is important at this point and what interested her about this topic and format. She speaks about the backbeat that motivated the entire project, how she went about commissioning stories and recipes from other people and why each genre she writes in requires her to wear a different hat. She talks about the long process of the book's creation, how her experience in academia informed it, the advice she has for future generations and her thoughts on being labeled an 'activist'. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Jessica Harris
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 155: Aran Goyoaga on the Art of Gluten-Free Bread | 07 janv. 2026 | 00:50:11 | |
Kate and Molly speak with author and photographer Aran Goyoaga about her new, groundbreaking book The Art of Gluten Free Bread. Aran talks about her experience as a pastry chef, where her gluten free journey began and starting her blog Cannelle et Vanille. She discusses the inspiration behind this new book, the research & development process and how her inexperience with bread was actually an advantage. With the wide variance of gluten free flours on the market, Aran talks about the importance of beginning the book with a guide with the hopes that readers will eventually riff on her recipes and why she insisted on metric measurements. She gets into the photography process, how she arranged the photo schedule around rigorous testing and why it could get lonely at times. Finally she shares some hopes she has for the book, where she wants to see it on the shelf and what she plans for the future. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella Mentions Join The Local Palate Cookbook Club Aran Goyoaga
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 154: Cookbook Writing is a Long Game | 31 déc. 2025 | 00:45:09 | |
Kristin, Molly, Andrea and Kate look back at the cookbook media landscape of 2025 and discuss the Anthropic settlement, their thoughts about AI in the food media sphere and share their inclinations about its usage. Each of the hosts share some wins they had this year with Kristin speaking about working on the Turtle Island book and Andrea joining in to share her thoughts on finding balance in collaboration projects. With a dash of astrology and numerology each host reveals what keeps them following this creative path and what they've let go of over the years along with the role persistence and perseverance plays in this journey. Finally they end the episode by sharing some of the books, people and ideas they are excited to follow into 2026.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
AI Duped My Cookbook and Made a Mess, by Adam Erace Kristin Donnelly on Co-Writing One of the Year's Biggest Books from Cookbookery Collective
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| 153: Making a Niche Baking Book with Maureen Abood | 17 déc. 2025 | 00:49:58 | |
Andrea and Kate speak with Maureen Abood about her new cookbook Lebanese Baking. She speaks about her Lebanese American heritage and why this project allowed her to know, cherish and preserve that identity for herself and future generations. She shares why she went niche, how long the selling process was, what it was like working with her editorial team and why she decided to put her own spin on the Dubai Chocolate craze. She shares her thoughts on the photoshoot experience, marketing tactics, glossary inclusion and why she seeks to remove barriers and limit intimidation to bakers as well as why this cuisine deserves its heyday. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Special Holiday Offer for Everything Cookbook listeners from The Local Palate Cookbook Club: Enjoy 15% off any membership, which includes curated newsletters, marketplace discounts, event invitations, and chances to win cookbooks and kitchen swag. Click the link to sign up: https://thelocalpalate.com/cookbookclub/ and use promotional code EVERYTHING. This special offer expires on 12/25. Maureen Abood Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 152: Following Your Culinary Curiosity with Emiko Davies | 10 déc. 2025 | 00:47:37 | |
Molly and Kristin speak with Tuscany based cookbook author and wine bar owner Emiko Davies about her varied career and newest cookbook. Emiko shares her globetrotting journey to food writing and how her shifting interests over time show up in her work. She talks about including her passion for art, especially photography, in her work, how she got her initial book deals and how she works a consistent release schedule. She discusses the intersection of food and art in her work, why she wanted to demystify Japanese home cooking in her new book and what the recipe testing process was like. Emiko includes so much of her unique personality in her work and leaves us with some incredible words of advice. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Special Holiday Offer for Everything Cookbook listeners from The Local Palate Cookbook Club: Enjoy 15% off any membership, which includes curated newsletters, marketplace discounts, event invitations, and chances to win cookbooks and kitchen swag. Click the link to sign up: https://thelocalpalate.com/cookbookclub/ and use promotional code EVERYTHING. This special offer expires on 12/25.
Emiko Davies
Torta della Nonna: A Collection of the Best Homemade Italian Sweets
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 151: Capturing Family Heritage in a Cookbook with Polina Chesnakova | 03 déc. 2025 | 00:50:37 | |
Molly and Kate speak with cookbook author Polina Chesnakova about her newest and most personal work yet, Chesnok. Polina talks about falling in love with her family's food which led her to writing, teaching and, eventually, a cookbook deal. While her first two books were less personal, this one is layered with family history, traditional recipes and tales from the diaspora and Polina unpacks the process behind its creation. She shares behind the scenes tidbits like the title selection, cover design and the sometimes maddening process behind nailing down the details of the recipes. She shares some of the apprehension she had while writing, where she spent time researching and why this was actually the easiest cookbook project she's ever worked on. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Special Holiday Offer for Everything Cookbook listeners from The Local Palate Cookbook Club: Enjoy 15% off any membership, which includes curated newsletters, marketplace discounts, event invitations, and chances to win cookbooks and kitchen swag. Click the link to sign up: https://thelocalpalate.com/cookbookclub/ and use promotional code EVERYTHING. This special offer expires on 12/25.
Polina Chesnakova
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 150: Entertaining Cookbooks | 26 nov. 2025 | 00:39:42 | |
Molly, Kate, Kristin and Andrea get together to discuss the new trend towards entertaining cookbooks; what they are, what they need and what problem they can solve. The hosts discuss some standouts, how they personally use them and what they hope to see in future iterations. While this genre can tend towards the aspirational, there are a few on the market that highlight the more practical aspects of hosting and attending get-togethers. After asking what the confluence of these books means about us post-pandemic, they talk about sub-genres, the re-release of a classic and if they'd be interested in writing one of their own. Finally they share a few of the dishes they're planning to make for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Join The Local Palate Cookbook Club Martha Stewart Transformed the Dinner Party. Was That a Good Thing? by Julia Moskin The Surprising Endurance of Martha Stewart’s “Entertaining” by Hannah Goldfield 69: Writing a Menu Cookbook with Amy Thielen 36: Celebrating Colombia with Mariana Velásquez
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 149: Soju Party with Irene Yoo | 19 nov. 2025 | 00:55:41 | |
Kate and Molly speak with chef, food writer, recipe developer and bar owner Irene Yoo about her debut cookbook Soju Party. Irene talks about her varied media career, the bar pop-ups that led to her opening a bar and writing this book. She's explains why she never thought she'd write this type of book, how her photo directing experience helped with the shoot and design and the thinking behind the book's unique organization, recipe curation and voice. She shares how it evolved from proposal to finished project, where she spent time researching and what was the hardest part of working on it. Finally she tells us why it was personally so important to share Korean food and drink culture and what she hopes this book brings to the conversation. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Join The Local Palate Cookbook Club Irene Yoo
Irene Yoo's Guide to Korean Drinking on Food 52
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show | |||
| 148: Heartland Masala with Jyoti Mukharji & Auyon Mukharji | 12 nov. 2025 | 00:51:00 | |
Molly and Kate speak with mother and son duo, Auyon & Jyoti Mukharji, about their new cookbook Heartland Masala. Jyoti shares how her popular cooking classes inspired a book and Auyon describes how he got involved and how the project eventually took on a life of its own. They talk about working together (for better or for worse), what skills they each brought to the project and how it progressed from idea to fully realized book. They explain why traditional publishing wasn't going to work for this book, how the hybrid model resulted in the book of their dreams and what the recipe creation, writing, testing and photographing process was like. They talk about the book's illustrations, its art direction and cover and how they crafted the friendly, knowledgeable and funny tone that enhances this very special book. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Join The Local Palate Cookbook Club Jyoti Mukharji - jmukharji -at- gmail.com Heartland Masala HQ Substack : At Noon We Fight Print Your Own Map from Heartland Masala HQ
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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