47 Comments
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Dorie Greenspan's avatar

Welcome to the Substack community of food lovers, food makers, food writers and food readers. Cookbookery Collective is such a good idea and you're the perfect host. And I'm deeply touched by the mention of my last book, Baking with Dorie - thank you so much - xoxo Dorie

PS: You probably know this, but "cookbookery" was one of Julia Child's favorite words.

Jenna Helwig's avatar

Thank you Dorie! I'm so happy to be here talking about my favorite subject. And, yes! Julia's "cookbookery" was my inspiration. (I am going to add her quote to my emails moving forward; thank you!)

Lina's cookbooks chronicles's avatar

What a fantastic discovery! I absolutely love your original presentation—the auto-interview format is such a fresh and engaging way to introduce yourself. Welcome ! We share the same passion for cookbooks, and I can’t wait for all the exciting exchanges and discoveries ahead. Greetings from Brussels!

Jenna Helwig's avatar

Thank you so much! I just subscribed to yours!

Maggie Hoffman's avatar

Love this format!!

Jenna Helwig's avatar

Thank you! I’ve always loved q&a’s like By the Book and the Proust Questionnaire. I also like filling out surveys, so maybe I’m just weird??

Kerry Faber's avatar

Excited for this! I own over 500 cookbooks and also arrange by color (best decision ever).

Jenna Helwig's avatar

Agree! They look so nice and somehow I just know which section the book I want is located in.

Victoria Granof's avatar

Hi Jenna! I notice you don’t have a fuchsia section in your library…..maybe you need a “Sicily, My Sweet”!

Jenna Helwig's avatar

Victoria! I LOVE your book. I have the e-version, but you're right. It doesn't do it justice. I will reach out to your publisher for a hard copy, and maybe you could do a q&a??

Victoria Granof's avatar

Sure- I’d love to!

Amanda Lawrence's avatar

I didn’t realize you have over 500!! 🤩🤩🤩

Laura Fenton's avatar

So glad to have you here, Jenna. I really appreciate a newsletter with a tight, niche focus like this. I can't wait to read all the installments! And I also can't wait for another one from Joshua McFadden!

Jenna Helwig's avatar

Thanks Laura! I literally gasped when I saw that his next book was pasta-focused. Yes PLEASE.

Phoebe Fry's avatar

Yay! So excited for this.

Jimmy Proffitt's avatar

Love this!

Jenna Helwig's avatar

Thanks! Someone finally asked me the questions I've always wanted to answer ;)

Gary Bee's avatar

Very happy to have stumbled upon this little corner of Substack - Cookbooks are my guilty pleasure and it’s great to meet others out there who share this passion. And with a much larger collection too! Greetings from Devon, England!

Jenna Helwig's avatar

Hi Gary—so happy you're here to chat cookbooks! Although I would argue that cookbooks are all pleasure and no guilt :).

Lucy Williams's avatar

I also organise my recipe books in colours purely because my brain remembers the colours of the spines. So glad to have stumbled on your Substack this morning!

Ginger Boden's avatar

Over 1,000 cookbooks here! I’m trying to be more thoughtful in my purchases, but I did immediately pre-order Josh McFadden’s new book as soon as I read your post! And, I have to try that banana bread. Currently I’m loving and obsessed with Solha El-Waylly’s banana bread from Start Here.

Jenna Helwig's avatar

Ah, 1000 books! I'm jealous, though I hear you about trying to be choosier. But some books are impossible to be without, and I think the Six Seasons pasta book will be one of them. And I need to try that banana bread!

Ginger Boden's avatar

And if it wasn’t for Eat Your Books, I’d not be able to manage them at all.

Jenna Helwig's avatar

Oooh that’s good to know! I need to investigate Eat Your Books more.

Ginger Boden's avatar

It’s a lifesaver. Not perfect (I wish they had an app. It’s still a bit clunky.), but it works quite well.

Ginger Boden's avatar

And now they have an app! And a substack too. CookShelf.

Jenna Helwig's avatar

oh yes! I think I subscribe to the Substack.

Ginger Boden's avatar

It’s so good. Brown butter and a sugar crust.

Felicity Spector's avatar

I’m also a big fan of Clare’s banana bread! Nothing beats it. Currently looking forward to Nicole Rucker’s new book, I love her so much. And since I can’t get to LA the book will be some compensation. Also, the books I use the most are Natasha Pickowitz More than Cake, the Honey and Co baking book, and Olia Hercules Home Food.

Jenna Helwig's avatar

That recipe is so good! Glad to find another fan. I love Natasha's book too.

Marsha's avatar

This is going to be a wonderful outlet for me! I too love and have many cookbooks (over 100). Curling up with a cookbook is my idea of a great afternoon and it sounds like your newsletter is going to be just as interesting as any good read! Congratulations and I look forward to your reviews and recommendations!

Jenna Helwig's avatar

Thank you so much for being here! Are there any books you're especially loving right now?

Sophia Wronsky's avatar

Wow I cannot wait for Joshua McFadden's next installment! Six Seasons is the Bible I keep turning to when in need of inspiration.

Welcome to Substack! Looking forward to your interviews and recommendations.

Jenna Helwig's avatar

Thanks Sophia! I'm so excited for his book too. I feel the exact same way as you about Six Seasons.

Sarah Copeland's avatar

Oooh I love this so much, Jenna! The concept is great and every question nails it, at least for my own personal cookbook obsession! I can't wait to read more!! ❤️

Jenna Helwig's avatar

Thank you so much Sarah! I think our group of cookbook obsessives is small but mighty!

Janet Hendrick's avatar

Jenna - I was gobsmacked by this first edition and look forward to many more. Right up my alley in every way.

Jenna Helwig's avatar

Thank you so much for reading!

Laura Scherb's avatar

Loved reading this, Jenna! I’m here for any cookbookery I can get!

Jenna Helwig's avatar

Thanks for being here Laura!