Molly and Andrea speak with Substack's number one food and drink writer, Caroline Chambers, about her experience building a successful following that led to the release of her new cookbook, What to Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking. Caroline shares how the pandemic spurred her shift from freelance recipe developer to newsletter writer in spite of past rejections of her cookbook proposal. She talks about her ethos, writing voice, building an audience, why she prioritizes instruction and how she balances realism and professionalism within the newsletter along with the most important piece of advice she has for aspiring platform builders.

Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen

Editor: Abby Cerquitella

Mentions

Caro Chambers

• Substack
• Instagram
• Podcast
• Website

Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show

• What to Cook When you Don't Feel Like Cooking by Caroline Chambers

Kate and Molly speak about cookbook clubs and career shifts with debut author Bebe Carminito. Bebe shares what inspired her love of food and her various career changes, from makeup artist to pastry assistant to food stylist to cookbook author. She followed her curiosity, gathering contacts, classes and experience over the years which eventually led to a beautiful full circle moment with this book, The Curated Board. She talks about starting a cookbook club and how that led to joining, or starting, four others as well as the ins and outs of running them and what grabs her attention when selecting a title. She discusses the experience of styling her own book, working with her photographer and with contributors for the book's recipes before leaving us with some truly inspirational advice.

Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen

Editor: Abby Cerquitella

Mentions

Bebe Carminito

• Website
• Instagram

Mechanics Cookbook Club

qb Cucina

The Proof Collective

Mimi Thorisson

The Whisk and Spoon

Leslie Jonath

Lauren Ruben

Susan Spungen

Shelley Lindgren

Christine Gallary

The Jam Lab

Marie Reginato

Kim Laidlaw

Anna Voloshyna

Emily Cooper

Molly DeCoudreaux

Anne's Toum

Balcony People by Joyce Landorf Heatherley

Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show

• The Curated Board by Bebe Black Carminito

Molly and Kate dive back into the topic of cookbook reviews as they chat with Leslie Brenner, an experienced critic, journalist, editor and consultant in the food media space. Leslie shares how she got into food writing, the inspiration and motivation behind her website and why she focuses on the home cook. She speaks on the mental and physical toll of restaurant reviewing and why she sees cookbook reviews as important before explaining her process and the mechanics involved as well as the rule she abides by while bringing a critical eye to the work. She talks about the role voice plays, the red flags she looks for and what she wishes authors would do before sharing the upcoming cookbook trends and titles she is excited to see in the marketplace.

Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen

Editor: Abby Cerquitella

Mentions

Leslie Brenner

• Website
• Instagram
• Cooks Without Borders
• Cooks Without Borders Newsletter
• Cooks Without Borders Instagram

Episode 84: Do We Need Cookbook Reviews?

Crave by Ludo Lefebvre

Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show

• The Memory of Taste by Tu David Phu and Soleil Ho
• Tu Casa Mi Casa: Mexican Recipes for the Home Cook by Enrique Olvera
• First Generation: Recipes from my Taiwanese-American Home by Frankie Gaw
• Niçoise: Market-Inspired Cooking from France's Sunniest City by Rosa Jackson
• The Bean Book from the Rancho Gordo Kitchen by Steven Santo with Julia Newberry
• Mastering the Art of Plant-Based Cooking by Joe Yonan
• Our South: Black Food Through My Lens by Ashleigh Shanti
• Les Halles by Anthony Bourdain
• Ottolenghi Comfort by Yotam Ottolenghi
• Crazy Water Pickled Lemons by Diana Henry