Being in the cookbook publishing industry I am often asked about the negative affect the internet is having on our business. People proclaim that they can find any recipe they want simply by typing a request in Google. They are correct; however, there is a huge difference between someone searching for a recipe and someone who enjoys cooking. We have learned through listening that the best cookbooks not only contain great recipes but also tell you about the recipe. These books tell a story and are as enjoyable to read as they are to cook from.
Interestingly, we live in a time where people often eat out a lot. Since the economic turndown of 2008, that has certainly changed and more of us are eating at home more and entertaining at home more. With the advent of grocery stores such as Fresh Market and Whole Foods specialty items not previously available are now easy to find. There has never been a time when our population was so interested in food.
While “celebrity” cookbooks are all the rage, community cookbooks are more popular than ever. There are many examples of community cookbooks being in continuous print for 25-60 years—how many celebrity cookbooks can say that?
Check out a few community cookbooks that have been in print for decades:
Personally, I would rather sit and browse my cookbook collection than scroll through a computer screen—there’s just something relaxing about turning those pages and reading what the contributors have to say about their own personal recipes.
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