One of my most frequently asked questions is “How do I start my own Cookbook Club?”. I don’t have all the answers, but here’s some FAQs and some of my thought process when planning for a monthly cookbook club event:
How do I choose a book for cookbook club?
The host can choose a book or you can take a vote as a group. Consider dietary restrictions and preferences, special holidays or celebratory months (AAPI Heritage Month, Pride Month, Black History Month, etc.), and the size of the group. If you need some inspiration, I have a list of books that I recommend for cookbook club.
How do you find all of the recipes in a book without typing them all out?
Eat Your Books has the indexes of several books. If your book is on the website, you can copy/paste the list and share with your cookbook club.
How does everyone get access to the recipes?
It is encouraged but not required for attendees to support the author and purchase the book. However, if the cost is prohibitive, authors oftentimes post their book’s recipes in free publications such as newspapers and newsletters when their book first launches. Libby and Overdrive (through your local public library system) give you access to PDF and electronic versions of cookbooks.
Where should I host my cookbook club?
I highly recommend public parks. If you event is more than 20 people, the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation requires you to apply for a permit ($25, non-refundable). Libraries, community centers, and the recreation room in your apartment building may also be good options. Additionally, You can also find event spaces by reaching out to galleries, bars/wineries, or searching on a website like Peerspace.
How many people should I invite to my cookbook club?
There’s no hard and fast rules here. I am mostly constrained by the event space and the number of recipes in the book. I started with as many people as I could fit in my apartment (20) and borrowed chairs from neighbors and my local buy nothing group on Facebook. As I felt comfortable with hosting more people, the cookbook club grew to 70 attendees in a park.
How do I find people to attend my cookbook club?
Start with friends and family. If you’re interested in meeting strangers, try sharing your event on social media or post in our cookbook club community discord. For safety, please consider hosting the event in a public place if you are hosting people you do not know.
How do I keep track of who is coming to cookbook club?
I use a tool called Partiful, which allows users to sign up with their phone number. It also has a useful “chip-in” function, which lets the host collect funds from attendees via Venmo, Cash App and Zelle. Some other community tools include Meetup, Eventbrite, and Geneva, all of which I have used but not as a host!
Should I collect money from attendees to chip in?
It depends! Consider costs that you would like to split or what supplies people can bring on their own. Must-haves may include park permits or event venues, plates, napkins, utensils, tables, chairs, picnic blankets, etc. And nice-to-haves might include flowers, votives and decorations. In the past, I have charged $5 for an outdoor venue to cover the costs of permits and compostable utensils and takeaway boxes and $5 – $10 with the option to contribute more for indoor venues.
How do I keep track of who is bringing what?
I link a google spreadsheets template to my Partiful information. The document outlines how to choose a recipe and how the cookbook club works. Feel free to take a copy of the spreadsheet for your own use.
How do I ensure food safety?
Consider sharing the food safety guidelines for your state with all attendees. This includes hand washing, food storage and food preparation, cooking temperatures, and more. Please refer to the NYC Health website for more information.
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