Everything Cookbooks

Andrea and Kate speak with Helen Goh about her thirty years of working in the food and hospitality industry and why she chose now to write her first solo book. She speaks about her time working with the Ottolenghi brand, her hesitation at embarking on a solo venture and the pros and cons of working alone or partnered. She's had many evolutions in the personal and professional spheres and talks about finding freedom in her work and her thoughts behind this book; its title, organization and how her psychology background informed its creation. She ends by sharing what baking means to her— its role in rituals and traditions— and ends with her experience juggling both of her careers, the cerebral and the tangible.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella

 
Mentions
Helen Goh
Guardian Column
Instagram
 
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Baking and the Meaning of Life with Helen Goh
Sweet by Yotam Ottolenghi and Helen Goh

Molly and Andrea speak with the iconic culinary historian Dr. Jessica B. Harris about her career and newest work, Braided Heritage. After discussing the 'more' than recipes that make a cookbook a cookbook, Dr. Harris also shares why this book is important at this point and what interested her about this topic and format. She speaks about the backbeat that motivated the entire project, how she went about commissioning stories and recipes from other people and why each genre she writes in requires her to wear a different hat. She talks about the long process of the book's creation, how her experience in academia informed it, the advice she has for future generations and her thoughts on being labeled an 'activist'.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella

 
Mentions
 
Jessica Harris
Instagram
High on the Hog Netflix Show
 
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Braided Heritage by Jessica Harris
High on the Hog by Jessica Harris
A Kwanzaa Keepsake and Cookbook by Jessica Harris
Iron Pots & Wooden Spoons by Jessica Harris
more Jessica Harris titles here

Kate and Molly speak with author and photographer Aran Goyoaga about her new, groundbreaking book The Art of Gluten Free Bread. Aran talks about her experience as a pastry chef, where her gluten free journey began and starting her blog Cannelle et Vanille. She discusses the inspiration behind this new book, the research & development process and how her inexperience with bread was actually an advantage. With the wide variance of gluten free flours on the market, Aran talks about the importance of beginning the book with a guide with the hopes that readers will eventually riff on her recipes and why she insisted on metric measurements. She gets into the photography process, how she arranged the photo schedule around rigorous testing and why it could get lonely at times. Finally she shares some hopes she has for the book, where she wants to see it on the shelf and what she plans for the future.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
 
Mentions
Join The Local Palate Cookbook Club
Aran Goyoaga
Website
Instagram
Cannelle et Vanille
 
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
The Art of Gluten Free Bread by Aran Goyoaga
Cannelle et Vanille by Aran Goyoaga
Cannelle et Vanille Bakes Simple by Aran Goyoaga

Kristin, Molly, Andrea and Kate look back at the cookbook media landscape of 2025 and discuss the Anthropic settlement, their thoughts about AI in the food media sphere and share their inclinations about its usage. Each of the hosts share some wins they had this year with Kristin speaking about working on the Turtle Island book and Andrea joining in to share her thoughts on finding balance in collaboration projects. With a dash of astrology and numerology each host reveals what keeps them following this creative path and what they've let go of over the years along with the role persistence and perseverance plays in this journey. Finally they end the episode by sharing some of the books, people and ideas they are excited to follow into 2026.
 
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella

 
Mentions

Join The Local Palate Cookbook Club
Anthropic Settlement
AI Duped My Cookbook and Made a Mess, by Adam Erace
Kristin Donnelly on Co-Writing One of the Year's Biggest Books from Cookbookery Collective
 
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Turtle Island, by Sean Sherman. Kate Nelson & Kristin Donnelly
Heart Shaped Tin, by Bee Wilson
Feast on Your Life, by Tamar Adler
On Eating, by Alicia Kennedy
The Last Sweet Bite by Michael Shaikh

Andrea and Kate speak with Maureen Abood about her new cookbook Lebanese Baking. She speaks about her Lebanese American heritage and why this project allowed her to know, cherish and preserve that identity for herself and future generations. She shares why she went niche, how long the selling process was, what it was like working with her editorial team and why she decided to put her own spin on the Dubai Chocolate craze. She shares her thoughts on the photoshoot experience, marketing tactics, glossary inclusion and why she seeks to remove barriers and limit intimidation to bakers as well as why this cuisine deserves its heyday.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella

 
Mentions
Special Holiday Offer for Everything Cookbook listeners from The Local Palate Cookbook Club: Enjoy 15% off any membership, which includes curated newsletters, marketplace discounts, event invitations, and chances to win cookbooks and kitchen swag. Click the link to sign up: https://thelocalpalate.com/cookbookclub/ and use promotional code EVERYTHING. This special offer expires on 12/25. 
Maureen Abood
Website
Instagram
Online Shop
 
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Lebanese Baking by Maureen Abood
Rose Water and Orange Blossoms by Maureen Abood