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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 WebsiteInstagramSubstack  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 Silk Roads: A Flavor Odyssey with Recipes from Baku to Beijing by Anna AnsariHome Food by Olia Hercules

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 Sean Sherman on Daily Show Episode 36: Celebrating Colombia with Mariana Velásquez Link in Bio substack   Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show Turtle Island, by Sean Sherman. Kate Nelson & Kristin DonnellyThe SalviSoul Cookbook by Karla Tatiana Vasquez Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts by Crystal Wilkinson Bread of Angels by Patti SmithStation Eleven by Emily St. John MandelRevel by Mariana Velásquez

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 Guardian ColumnInstagram  Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show Baking and the Meaning of Life with Helen GohSweet by Yotam Ottolenghi and Helen Goh

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 InstagramHigh on the Hog Netflix Show   Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show Braided Heritage by Jessica HarrisHigh on the Hog by Jessica HarrisA Kwanzaa Keepsake and Cookbook by Jessica HarrisIron Pots & Wooden Spoons by Jessica Harrismore Jessica Harris titles here

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 WebsiteInstagramCannelle et Vanille  Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show The Art of Gluten Free Bread by Aran GoyoagaCannelle et Vanille by Aran GoyoagaCannelle et Vanille Bakes Simple by Aran Goyoaga 

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 Join The Local Palate Cookbook Club Anthropic Settlement 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   Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show Turtle Island, by Sean Sherman. Kate Nelson & Kristin DonnellyHeart Shaped Tin, by Bee WilsonFeast on Your Life, by Tamar AdlerOn Eating, by Alicia KennedyThe Last Sweet Bite by Michael Shaikh 

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 WebsiteInstagramOnline Shop  Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show Lebanese Baking by Maureen AboodRose Water and Orange Blossoms by Maureen Abood 

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 BlogWebsiteSubstackInstagram  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 The Japanese Pantry: From Sake to Soy by Emiko DaviesGohan: Everyday Japanese Cooking: Memories and Stories from My Family's Kitchen by Emiko DaviesFlorentine: The True Cuisine of Florence  by Emiko DaviesAcquacotta: Recipes and Stories from Tuscany's Secret Silver Coast by Emiko DaviesTortellini at Midnight: And Other Heirloom Family Recipes from Taranto to Turin to Tuscany by Emiko DaviesCinnamon and Salt: Ciccheti in Venice: Small Bites From The Lagoon City by Emiko Davies

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 WebsiteInstagramNewsletter  Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show Chesnok by Polina ChesnakovaHot Cheese by Polina ChesnakovaEveryday Cake by Polina ChesnakovaCarpathia by Irina GeorgescuBeyond the North Wind by Darra Goldstein

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 Jenna Helwig Cookbook wrap up 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 Chelsea Fagan Staff Meals from Chanterelle   Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show Martha Stewart's Entertaining by Martha StewartElvira's Cookbook from Hell by Cassandra PetersonCompany by Amy ThielenBarefoot Contessa Parties by Ina GartenNothing Fancy by Alison RomanWhat Can I Bring by Casey ElsassHaving People Over by Chelsea FaganThe Picnic by by Marnie Hanel and Jen Stevenson and Andrea SloneckerThe Campout Cookbook by Marnie Hanel and Jen StevensonThe Snowy Cabin by Marnie Hanel and Jen StevensonCooking for Good Times by Paul KahanDrinks and Dinks by Camille WilsonSoju Party by Irene YooParty People by Brie LarsonColombiana by Mariana Velasquez

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 WebsiteOrion BarIG: @yooeatingTikTok: @yooeating YouTube: @ka.ka.studioIrene 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 Soju Party: How to Drink (and Eat) Like a Korean, by Irene YouNitethawk Cinema Presents CookbookAnything's Pastable, by Dan PashmanKoji AlchemyFirst Generation, by Frankie GawChili Crisp, by James Park

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 Auyon Mukharji Jyoti Mukharji - jmukharji -at- gmail.com Heartland Masala HQ Substack : At Noon We Fight Print Your Own Map from Heartland Masala HQ The Collective Book Studio Frances Baca book designer Olivier Kugler illustrator Wendy MacNaughton illustrator   Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show Heartland Masala by Auyon Mukharji & Jyoti MukharjiMy Bombay Kitchen, by Niloufer Ichaporia KingSalt Fat Acid Heat, by Samin Nosrat 

Kate and Kristin speak with Raquel Pelzel and Michael Szczerban about bringing an iconic Italian cookbook to America. The Talisman of Happiness was written in the 1920s by Ada Boni, "one of the most groundbreaking, pioneering women in food history." The book has influenced some of the most beloved pillars of Italian cuisine. Michael shares what drew him to this book and inspired his years-long quest to publish it in America while Raquel talks her process of editing over(!) 1600 recipes post-translation. They discuss editing by hand, recipe testing, translation, focusing on an American audience and the timeline they had to accomplish this massive undertaking. Finally, they share how the book changed their own cooking, why it is so special to the, and the types of books that Voracious publishes. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella   Mentions Voracious imprint Join The Local Palate Cookbook Club   Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show The Talisman of Happiness by Ada Boni

Kristin and Kate welcome the food director of Real Simple, Jenna Helwig, to discuss her newsletter, The Cookbookery Collective, and her thoughts on the current cookbook landscape. Jenna shares her career path, why she fell in love with food and how she paired writing cookbooks with working as a private chef. She talks about covering food at Real Simple, the role magazines play in our current food media climate and her thoughts on building a social media presence and how that led to starting her newsletter. After talking about assembling the massive list of Fall 2025 titles she shares some thoughts on marketing copy, subtitles, influencer cookbooks and the upcoming trends she's excited (or not so excited) to see. Finally she extends some advice and reveals her level of interest in writing another book. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella   Mentions Jenna Helwig WebsiteCookbookery Collective SubstackFall 2025 Cookbook list  Real Simple Magazine Join The Local Palate Cookbook Club   Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show Bare Minimum Dinners by Jenna HelwigBaby-Led Feeding by Jenna HelwigBaking and the Meaning of Life by Helen GohDorie's Anytime Cakes by Dorie GreenspanSix Seasons of Pasta by Josh McFaddenRecipes from the American South by Michael TwittyGood Things by Samin NosratHot Date by Rawaan Alkhatib Chesnok by Polina Chesnakova

Kate and Kristin get into all things food photography with Eva Kolenko, the photographer of over 50 cookbooks. Eva talks about her new studio setup, how she got her start as a photographer after a wandering path as an artist and how she made the jump to actually making a living with her talent. She shares what she wished she knew before starting this line of work, how she approaches each new project and the essential tools of the task that make it run smoothly. Finally she discusses what she'd like authors to know about the photography experience, what she wishes they would do and consider while on set and the advice (and pet peeves!) she has for aspiring photographers. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella   Mentions Eva Kolenko WebsiteSubstack: Inside the Food StudioJoin The Local Palate Cookbook Club 106: Caroline Chambers on Building a Substack Platform   Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show Yogurt by Janet Fletcher, photos by Eva KolenkoShaq's Family Style photos by Eva KolenkoWhat to Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking by Caroline Chambers, photos by Eva Kolenko