The Development of a Community Cookbook

We have been discussing the merits of community cookbooks and how they create partnerships within the community as well as how they benefit the community as a whole. These books are being developed and sold across our great nation. I thought it might be interesting to discuss how one of these masterpieces comes together.

One thing I know for sure is that the process of developing a classic community cookbook involves a great deal more than just collecting a few good recipes. Although having quality recipes is important a great deal of additional content is needed and is important if one is to have a truly remarkable cookbook. Who better than one who has recently been heavily involved in the process to share her experience. I asked my good friend, Lori Sullivan, to share her thoughts on the experience that she had with Rochelle Darmon, fellow co-chair for JL of Greater Ft Lauderdale. 

In their professional lives these ladies are both involved in other non-profit organizations; Lori with Girl Scouts of the USA, and Rochelle with March of Dimes. Here is what they have to say.

 Paradise isn't truly a destination. You can't find it on a map or use credit card miles to get there.  After two years of concept, development, design and marketing - I can say with absolute certainty that paradise is a cookbook you adore and a group of women you love.

It began in February of 2007. In truth, I was in the throes of a postpartum realignment and ready to step back from the Junior League but a little voice in my head (and a much louder voice from my dear friend, Rochelle) said “Come on, let’s go!”

So, away we went! Rochelle and I spent five months of that year getting ready and getting to FRP’s “Cookbook U” in Nashville. Then in July, we met them; the 16 wonderful women of unparalleled talent and dedication who would take it all on with us and have a cookbook to show for it in just 18 short months. They all showed up at Rochelle’s house for brunch…and mimosas.

Having never met before, miraculously (magically!) we selected a title that first day, Paradise Served.  The title was designed to give a nod to the beautiful place we call home and the recipes to be eventually served from our book.  The title was also intended to be a celebration of our League’s rich history of service, advocacy and community activism.

We spent just four months on assembling an eclectic group of just over 500 recipes, as well as a volunteer team of 90 Leaguers to “alpha” test and photograph each of them.  Just after the holidays, in January 2008, 500 recipes were quickly tested a second and a third time (that phase exclusively completed by our committee) and after a process of elimination, we selected the top 244 recipes found in our book today.  At the same time, our spectacular South Florida winter set the backdrop for the cover photo shoot.

The 18 of us meet weekly (sometimes nightly, over take-out food) to make the March 15 deadline for our manuscript to travel to our friends at FRP.  Amazingly after all of that, a caravan of mini-vans and perfectly hysterical women drove to the main FedEx office to watch “our baby” leave us.

We cried that day in March. We cried the day our first mock-up arrived in May. We cried about chapter openers and Pantone colors. It was a long (soggy) summer; but we kept the traditions of monthly brunch committee meetings and kept each other sane. We drove pre-sales and gathered together in the driveway in November when the palettes were delivered to a top-secret location. We got dressed up and produced a first class launch for our cookbook in true Fort Lauderdale fashion. The night of November 14, Paradise Served premiered to a packed house and rave reviews.

Now each of us can serve as an official tour guide for the popular local attraction called “how to make a cookbook.” We all look back with great admiration and amazement. Better yet, we can thumb through the pages of our totally unique offering to the culinary world; born of collaboration and a lot of love. Our tour is an honest narrative. Sometimes the road to paradise can be dark and scary; and bumpy because the path is uncharted.  For our committee though, we found our path to paradise, and I don’t think we would have had it any other way.

Thanks Lori and Rochelle for sharing your story and truly expressing how gratifying this work is. Remember these ladies have created an asset for their organization and community that can benefit both for many years to come.