On starting a cookbook supper club
why it's my favorite 2024 bingo square, and how to start your own
You don’t need a powerpoint, I coached myself. The official first cookbook supper club meeting was a few weeks away. My intrinsic program manager tendencies were raging. How was I to have a fun, breezy1 dinner party, including people I had never met, to introduce this cookbook club and how it would function?! I wanted to make sure everyone felt like they got to weigh in… even though I already had the logistics entirely sorted out. But I didn’t want to seem bossy! Because I’m not bossy, I just overthink really thoroughly think through things. Sigh.
This discord was why I hadn’t started a cookbook club sooner. My internal monologue had me second guessing whether it would be fun, or if I’d just be project manager-ing my limited number of friends (adult in a new city problems) into an awkward social engagement on a regular basis.
But at the end of 2023, as I was filling in my 2024 Bingo Card (see my full 2024 bingo card in this post), I decided I needed to finally act on my cookbook club longing. What’s the worst that could happen? I could start and end it in the same year if it was a train wreck.
As January 2024 rolled around, I started prodding my few friends whether they or any of their friends would be interested in doing a cookbook club. Explaining that for each get-together, everyone would bring a dish from the same cookbook, we’d have a meal, and decide on the next cookbook. To my delight, I was met with enthusiasm. So, discomfort aside, I collected email addresses and sent out a google form to gauge interest. I encouraged sharing it with friends that would appreciate it, and before I knew it, I had 15 people interested in joining. About half were my friends, and half would be new friends as the club unfolded.
We had the first meeting in February 2024. Since the idea of assigning strangers to prepare specific dishes was intense anxiety fodder, I had everyone over for a dinner I cooked2. I ultimately resisted drafting a powerpoint to cover the proposed logistics; partially to uphold the facade of breeziness (who am I joking, this engagement started with a google form…), and partially because then I would need to project it on the wall or print it for everyone and even I acknowledged that’s a litttttle intense. But I did have a google doc outline to make sure I covered everything.
Everyone was asked to bring some of their favorite cookbooks and after eating we passed them around, ooh-ing and aaah-ing over the variety of cuisines and beautiful photographs. Logistics were discussed and agreed upon, and from there we met monthly.
I never expected to derive as much joy from cookbook club as I do. We rotate hosting, each person introducing something unique to the experience. Our first host printed the cutest menu, and now many folks follow that lead. It’s an excuse to put together a themed table scape, but no judgement if we’re at a card table with paper plates because why should a bachelorette have table settings for twelve?
I’ve enthusiastically seen new friendships develop. The first time I saw two friends that met through cookbook club post an instagram story together at an event, I felt so proud (is that weird? I don’t know, but I was). The plan I executed helped make that friendship happen. Just last month, I took a delightful roadtrip with three of my best friends that may have otherwise never mingled. It’s brought people together in a way I never anticipated, in the best way.
so you want to start your own cookbook club?
Because it’s seriously so fun. Do it!
Below, I’ve outlined the table stakes, or necessary considerations to start your own cookbook club. I’ve also highlighted some bonus points at the end of this post - things that are entirely unnecessary, but make it all feel a little more special.
I’ll elaborate on each item and provide links to templates and recommendations as applicable.
table stakes
Participants - 6 to 15 friends interested
Location - one friend with sufficient space to host the group
Logistics - tracking spreadsheet, shared drive, group text thread, scheduling and availability tool, kickoff meeting to align on key decisions (is my corporate coming out?)
Some cookbooks
how it works, an overview
We meet monthly, taking turns ‘hosting’. Hosting includes: securing a location, sending the calendar invite, ensuring everyone has access to recipes and signs up for a dish, and sends reminders. No need to purchase 12 cookbooks. Each time we meet, everyone brings their dish and cookbooks to recommend for later months, we eat, chat, and peruse cookbooks. Before the night wraps, we pick the next cookbook and host (sometimes we get carried away chatting and do this after in the group text instead). Bonus points if folks pick their recipes and snap a photo as well. After the event, the host ensures folks have access to recipes, sends a Doodle to query availability, sets the date and sends the next invite. Then the process repeats. Doing it this way ensures no one person is the keystone, so it can continue month to month as a collective effort.
participants
Because not everyone can come to each instance, I find that 15 people in the group overall yields attendance of 8-12 people each time. This may vary based on your friends and their respective calendars, but I’d suggest including a slightly higher number than the desired minimum attendance. I’ve had as few as seven people attend and that was sufficient for a well-rounded meal and hearty conversation.
I’d highly recommend friends inviting friends to the initial group. This has made for a really diverse group of women, united by their love of food and cooking, and it’s been so fulfilling getting to know new friends through the group.
location
Hosting a group of 15 isn’t a small feat, particularly if you live in a city apartment. Among my cookbook club, we rotate locations and hosting, with the disclaimer that anyone can use my dining room to ‘host’. Friends with the space and interest in hosting can do so, but there’s no pressure.
logistics
I started typing all of this out and phew it was word-heavy. SO I created a handy checklist that outlines all the recommended steps to run your own cookbook club!
One fussy thing I like to do (not included in the guide above), because it’s entirely optional and dependent on your level of breeziness, is within each month’s Google drive folder, I create two standard subfolders. One folder for ‘Recipe Suggestions’ where folks can add photos of recipes from the cookbook to choose from and one folder for ‘Recipes Cooked’ - the recipes that ultimately made the final menu. Bonus: within ‘Recipes Cooked’ we have one subfolder of recipe images and one of Paprika files. Enough of our group uses the recipe manager app Paprika, that if one person loads the recipe to the app, they share the file for easy importing by others.
bonus points
Multiple hosts with adequate space - it’s fun rotating locations and can help balance commute time if you’re geographically dispersed
Recap emails - I am extra and send a recap email each time. I use mailchimp for the added formatting capabilities. In the recap I include a link to the availability widget for the next meetup, a summary of the recipes we ate and any cute pictures snapped, a section about the cookbook we selected for the next month, and finally (my favorite) a section of the things we chatted about. This ‘what we loved/learned’ section includes playlists, serving dishes, noteworthy hikes, articles of discussion, and so forth. It’s such a fun section to put together, and helps folks who can’t always attend feel like they haven’t missed a beat.
Cloth tablecloths, napkins, candles, and decor
Printed menus - one person did it and now we almost always do them. Again, they’re not at all necessary but just feel special.
Pretty serving dishes - we began bringing things in pyrex and slowly upped our game and I’m convinced food tastes better from a fancy platter. Again, totally extra, but fun.
Themed playlists for the vibesss (best free ambiance)
Oh em gee, we made it. No ‘life lately’ section because this is a lot of words already, but truly I hope it was inspiring and at least a few folks start their own cookbook club. It was one of the highlights of my 2024!
xoxo - jm
If you know me IRL you know breezy miiiight be the last word to describe me. I dream of being effortless, but alas I am full of effort.
We mingled over Alison Roman’s Labneh with Sizzled Scallions as a starter. I cooked Alison Roman’s Slow Cooked Lamb with White Wine and Potatoes and Bon Appetit’s Just Keeps Getting Better Kale and Lentil Salad for the meal. Yossy Arefi’s Citrusy Almond Cornmeal Cake (GF!) via Snacking Cakes was the dessert. The lamb and cake were new to me, but the salad and dip are favorite recipes I make again and again. It was the perfect menu that could be made ahead, so hosting was a breeze. Highly recommend.
I can’t tell you how grateful I am for you overcoming your internal doubts/monologuing! If it weren’t for your thoughtfulness and attention to detail I think the club could’ve easily fizzled out. So thank you for creating such a joyful space! 💛
this is such a brilliant idea, I've always wanted to be part of a cookbook club, wish we were in the same city.