Cookbook Club

Join Our Inaugural Community Cookbook Club!

February  4, 2017

We're a great match, you and us.

You see, we share a love of cookbooks. We review them, talk about them, lust after particularly impressive collections, and yes, create and sell them, too. And we know you love them as well: When we asked you to nominate your favorite cookbooks of 2016, and over 1100 of you chimed in with recommendations.

So it's only logical that we create a Cookbook Club*. We're doing it to explore and cook from more cookbooks to be sure, but we're also doing it for the community—to create a space for us to come together, get to know each other a little better, and learn from each other. All while engaging in one of our favorite pastimes: talking about food.

Photo by Bobbi Lin

Our inaugural book is Kate McDermott’s Art of the Pie, and if you’re wondering how we settled on that, with so many recent releases to choose from, well, let’s just say it’s abundantly obvious a lot of you like this book. (Ahem. #piglet)

Shop the Story

Plus, our beloved Dorie Greenspan’s review makes it clear this is a book for experienced bakers and novices alike: “Baking from Art of the Pie is like having pie maker Kate McDermott at your elbow, encouraging, instructing and cheering you on. Whether you’re a seasoned pie hand or a beginner with more enthusiasm than skill, Kate’s got you covered.”

Join The Conversation

Top Comment:
“Since we are local we meet once a month in person and bring a dish from the cookbook and talk about why we liked it, what we learned about making it, etc. Looking forward to this virtual cookbook club experience. Thanks!”
— Christina E.
Comment

Basically there’s no excuse not to join, so let’s get baking!

Photo by Bobbi Lin

How to participate

1) Get the Book

Buy one, either online or visit your favorite local bookstore. If you buy one from Kate McDermott’s local Indie book store, Port Books & News, she’ll sign your copy (they ship anywhere in the U.S.)! Or, if you’re not ready to commit quite yet, check out a copy from your local library or borrow a copy from a friend.

2) Read & Cook

Rather self-explanatory, as this is one of the most important parts of participating a cookbook club, right? If you’re not sure where to begin, take a page out of our Cookbook Editor Ali Slagle's playbook. When she reviews a cookbook, she reads through the entire introduction as well as 15 headnotes and recipes, and then cooks at least three recipes.

3) Share Your Opinions

There are two ways to participate, choose one or the other, or both!

a) Social Media: Share mini-reviews, pie photos, or tricks you pick up from the book by tagging content on Instagram or Twitter with #f52cookbookclub. We'll round up your responses and share them at the end of the month.

b) Group Discussion: After having the full month to peruse through the book and cook as many pies as your oven can handle, we’re going to gather on the Hotline on Monday, February 27th (all day long!) to talk about the book. We’re going to keep the discussion on a single thread, so anyone can pop in and catch up on everything we’ve talked about in one spot. And while you’re welcome to come in and out of the discussion throughout the day, you’ll want to catch author Kate McDermott when she joins us from 12 to 1 PM EST.

You can also join us on our Cookbook Club Facebook page, where we can all talk about the book throughout the month. Head to the page here and request to join (it's free!)—we'll add you to the group lickity-split.

Any questions? You can reach me at [email protected] or feel free to ask them below in the comments.

*If you were paying really close attention, you'll remember that last fall we mentioned our plans to start a Cookbook Club. You get a gold star for attention to detail. Wear your virtual badge with pride.

See what other Food52 readers are saying.

  • MARDOL
    MARDOL
  • Kimberly Nichols
    Kimberly Nichols
  • Dana
    Dana
  • theresa
    theresa
  • frenchfoodie
    frenchfoodie
I like esoteric facts about vegetables. Author of the IACP Award-nominated cookbook, Cooking with Scraps.

47 Comments

MARDOL April 17, 2020
I've joined the FB group - but how do I get the list of cookbooks & what is coming next ?
 
Kimberly N. July 6, 2017
Can I still join in?
 
Lindsay-Jean H. July 8, 2017
So happy to see you joined, welcome Kimberly!
 
Dana March 22, 2017
I've just recently heard about this club and would love to join. I am an avid pie baker so this is perfect timing for me...LOVE Kate's book and definitely one of my faves. I just realized that I may have missed it though as I see that this was announced in early February, is there another book coming up? If I'm still able to join, I'm in! Thanks so much!
 
Lindsay-Jean H. March 22, 2017
Hi Dana! You can absolutely join in! March's book is Deep Run Roots (https://food52.com/blog/19174-announcing-our-march-cookbook-club-title-vote-on-the-next), and if you're on Facebook you can join our group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1891444884421806/
 
theresa February 23, 2017
Please let me know if you have ANY recommendations for a really good
"slow cooker" cookbook! There are so many out there and some are so blah and predictable. I am looking for a special cookbook for a gift to my daughter who truly loves to cook and appreciated great food, but has been requesting a slow cooker that is a couple notches above the standard.
Appreciate it very much!
 
Lindsay-Jean H. February 23, 2017
Hey theresa, our Books Editor, Ali Slagle, says that Indian Slow Cooker and Mexican Slow Cooker are both very good, and while they aren't out quite yet, both Ten Speed Press and Huch Acheson have slow cooker books on the horizon.
 
frenchfoodie February 23, 2017
Too late for me to get this book but looking forward to seeing and reading about others' experiences. What is next month's book?
 
Lindsay-Jean H. February 23, 2017
Hi frenchfoodie! Kate has some of her recipes on her website: http://artofthepie.com/recipes/ if you'd like to sneak in a pie before the end of the month. We'll be announcing next month's book here at the beginning of March (or you could join our Facebook group for an early heads-up... https://www.facebook.com/groups/1891444884421806/)
 
marcy.reynolds.9 February 11, 2017
My husband is so going to hate you for feeding my addiction (but secretly like you).
 
Joy L. February 8, 2017
I am so excited. I have several thousand cookbooks.
 
Christina E. February 8, 2017
Love, love, love this! I even mention in my blog that I read cookbooks like novels so this bookclub is definitely in my wheelhouse. I belong to a local book club that is doing something similar. The name of it is called "Cooking the Books". Since we are local we meet once a month in person and bring a dish from the cookbook and talk about why we liked it, what we learned about making it, etc. Looking forward to this virtual cookbook club experience. Thanks!
 
love2cook February 10, 2017
Love both the title and idea of your club bringing dishes from the book of the month!
 
BocaCindi February 5, 2017
Ordered the cookbook today. This is really a brilliant idea and will be sooo much fun
 
Patsy W. February 5, 2017
I'm in for the pie baking and for the sharing! I tend to read cookbooks like novels and The Art of the Pie is an awesome read!
 
Craftygirl1964 February 5, 2017
I've just requested the book at my local library - really looking forward to participating in this community activity!!
 
LoveCooking February 5, 2017
So fun! Looking forward to it.
 
EMR February 5, 2017
I'm so in..I just need to figure out what kind of pan I can use to bake a small(er) serving for our family and give the rest away to friends. I don't want to tempt myself with a whole pie sitting around as I know what will happen...does anyone have a suggestion for a small pie or tart pan? Thanks
 
Jill S. February 5, 2017
Fat Daddio makes wonderful mini tart pans with the removable bottoms. That's what I use. It's so nice to just make 4 pies at a time.
 
EMR February 5, 2017
Thank you. Is there a rule of thumb for cooking adjustment time for smaller pans?
 
Jill S. February 5, 2017
I'm just starting out on the tart quest. I've used the same temp as recommended to bake my shells. Some have take longer to bake. I haven't made a "pie shell" yet. I've made Oat & nut shells and Nilla wafer shell. Both took longer than recommended to bake.
 
EMR February 5, 2017
OK...Perhaps we will be on this quest together...Thanks again for your input..
 
Ali W. February 5, 2017
I just bought a new 6.5" Fiesta pie dish for the same reason. We're just two in our household, so I've been wanting to figure out how to do smaller pies. I guess this is the month!
 
EMR February 5, 2017
Indeed. I am looking forward to exchanging ideas and experiences of making small pies.
 
Lindsay-Jean H. February 5, 2017
We have fun mini ones in our Shop, too, here: https://food52.com/shop/products/2243-mini-hidden-quote-summer-pie-plate-set and here: https://food52.com/shop/products/2051-mini-hidden-quote-pie-plate-set
 
EMR February 5, 2017
Very cute!
 
Ariel P. February 4, 2017
Yes!!! I'm so excited that this is finally happening! Getting the book for sure! Can't wait to join in on the fun!
 
Donna February 4, 2017
Yes! I have this book and I'm loving it!
 
Erin B. February 4, 2017
I'm in. And my husband is not disappointed that there will be PIE!!!!!
 
Emma N. February 2, 2017
Oh my goodness, I'm totally in! I got this book for Christmas and have already cooked from it a shameful amount. It is also such an enjoyable read with so much of McDermott's personality sprinkled through :)
 
Kathy L. February 2, 2017
Yes! I'm in! Cookbook clubs are so much fun.
 
Posie (. February 1, 2017
Yes yes yes!!! Picking up the book tomorrow!!
 
Kate M. February 1, 2017
I am just thrilled that my book ART OF THE PIE has been chosen as the inaugural book for the new FOOD52 Community Cookbook Club. Kate