What we’re about
If you're anything like us, you have an overwhelming number of cookbooks sitting nice + pretty on your shelves — yet there are volumes of recipes just waiting to be discovered + experienced. Such an undertaking must never be done alone.
Feast was launched by the extraordinary mind of Jessica Brand, a creative visionary who said, "Why not gather new + old friends together to start a cookbook club? Better yet, create a local Meetup Group!" Together we’ve shared a culinary adventure since the fall of 2015!
Once a month, we'll dive into a chosen cookbook, prepare a variety of recipes, and get together to taste + discuss. Think of it as a gourmet potluck. Each month we'll feature a different cookbook or blog, or author, and the group will meet for the most delicious gatherings throughout the North Shore.
Hear an Intro Video created by the founder of the Feast Cookbook Club and many of the original members — https://youtu.be/CAChqM-WzOY. Starting in the fall of 2024, Jessica has asked long-time members Brenda and Jim to continue the tradition.
All cooking levels are welcome . . . so don't be shy! Get ready to explore all sorts of new flavors while making new foodie friends.
Can’t wait to prepare + share,
Brenda + Jim
p.s. If you're single looking to mingle, then sadly, our group is not for you. We aim to keep our focus on the food + recipes while maintaining a friendly social environment. So, if you make more than one person feel uncomfortable, we'll have to respectfully block you from the group.
If you reserve a seat at our events and not show up (without prior notice), we will be bummed. If you do it again, you will respectfully be removed from the group. Thanks for your understanding!
Upcoming events (2)
See all- My Dominican Kitchen + Bodega Bakes (Blog + Book)Espacio, Salem, MA$8.00
We’ve been wanting to theme an event at Espacio (you'll see more about that below) that combines the colorful backdrop of the walls with the spices of the local neighborhood. We’ve found a dynamic duo that does just that for you to choose from!
Please note: In order to secure the space, we are trying a Saturday.
I know that might be a challenge for some but an opportunity for others. Appreciate everyone's flexibility!My Dominican Kitchen
https://mydominicankitchen.com
Check out this trusted and quickly growing bilingual food blog! Browse the collection of authentic, traditional Dominican recipes and some tasty Latin-inspired dishes. Here you’ll find hundreds of easy and flavorful recipes to cook at home. Created by Vanessa Mota, an award-winning food photographer, cookbook author, and nationally recognized content creator. Her love for food led her to create My Dominican Kitchen, a bilingual blog with authentic traditional Dominican recipes and Latin-inspired meals for home cooks, as a way to preserve her family’s recipes and share with the world the flavors of la comida criolla.- Dishing Podcast with chef Vanessa
- 🎥 YouTube Channel
Bodega Bakes
This book feature Paola's renditions of traditional Dominican desserts such as Guava & Cheese Pastelitos and Tres Leches Cake, as well as unique twists on classic American treats such as Plantain Sticky Buns, 'Everything on the Bodega Shelf' Brownies, and Paola's viral 'Thick'ems,' which combine the best of a crispy cookie and the delicious gooey parts of a soft cookie. Designed to be accessible to bakers of all levels (and those who shop at their corner store). The NYT named it one of the best cookbooks of 2024 and Nobel and Mininuteman are fully stocked with copies.- 🎥 Making bodega snacks in your home with ‘Bodega Bakes’
- Instagram Account
- This is Taste: Podcast Interview with Paola Velez an award-winning chef, activist, and author based in Washington, DC. She’s the cofounder of the viral grassroots bake sale Bakers Against Racism and the author of a great debut cookbook, Bodega Bakes.
Sourcing Supplies:
Los Amigos Supermarket, Congress Street Market, and Castillo Grocery in SalemESPACIO is a newly constructed and dynamic, 2,000+ square foot programming space within a newly-renovated affordable housing development on Congress Street, a main commercial corridor in The Point neighborhood in Salem. We are excited to work with North Shore Community Development Coalition, Inc. to showcase the space. If you head to the area for shopping at a small market, you might also consider checking out the Open Air Museum. Located in El Punto Neighborhood in Salem, Mass, it features over 75 large scale murals by 30 world renowned and 25 local artists within a 3 block radius.
WHAT TO PACK
- Your recipe
- Your plate, bowl, and silverware
- Small containers to take home leftovers
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Tables + Chairs + Linen
- Serving Utensils
- Non-Alcoholic Beverages + Drinkware
TIPS + IDEAS
- Go out of your comfort zone. Try a new technique or work with ingredients you've never used before.
- There's no guarantee your dish will remain HOT by the time we are ready to eat. Consider recipes that not only travel well but can also be served at room temperature. Either way, you're welcome to bring a heating element, crock-pot, or warmer. Check with us first to see if there's an available outlet at the venue.
- Be sure to read through ALL of the recipe instructions beforehand to make sure you have the proper tools, dishes, and ingredients. (We’ve made that mistake and wound up empty-handed.)
FIRST TIME HERE?
Welcome! Keep reading...
INSTRUCTIONS : How our Cookbook Club works- RSVP via Meetup. The event fee (paid online) secures your seat. This automatically removes the cumbersome waitlist and maintains a consistent level of participation. All funds go toward venue rental fees and Meetup costs. If you would prefer to pay in cash, message me and I'll manually add you to the list. Thank you!
- Get your hands on the cookbook to flip through and pull a recipe. You can ask your library to retrieve it from their network, borrow from a friend, or purchase from a local retailer. If you're in a pinch, let me know, and I'll email you some snapshots of recipes to choose from.
- Pick at least 1 recipe to make for the event. Note: To avoid recipe duplication, take a moment to check the comments section and see which recipes have already been posted. Just in case, have a backup recipe selected in case your first choice is already taken.
- In the comments section below (not in the chat box), share which recipe you (and your guests, if any), will be bringing. Please do this at least 48 hours before our event, as we will print menus.
- Day of the event (or the day before). Prepare your recipe according to the directions provided in the cookbook. As tempting as it might be to alter the recipe or make a substitution, please follow the instructions as closely as possible. This will allow the group to truly experience the author's array of recipes. Note: No need to double the recipe. There will be more than enough food to enjoy!
- Packing your own place settings is one of the ways we hope to keep costs low. Make your plate, bowl, and silverware part of our story. Tell us about your vintage store finds or your aunt's wedding china you never use. There are endless variety and incredible backstories.
- Don't forget to bring some small containers to take home leftovers. You'll have the best lunch the following day, guaranteed.
Can’t wait to prepare + share,
Brenda and Jim - A Midsummer Night's Feast: Erin FrenchThe House of the Seven Gables, Salem, MA$25.00
Our summer tradition continues at the historic House of Seven Gables in Salem by the beautiful garden on the harbor.
"Sometimes you have to get a little lost to find the things you are searching for"Our journey to The Lost Kitchen began quite unexpectedly. We stumbled upon Erin French's story after her original restaurant had closed and she had started her Airstream pop-up. Something about her resilience captivated us, and we began following her culinary journey, reading about her remarkable backstory, and waiting patiently as rumors swirled about a new restaurant opening. Over the past 10 years she’s restored a stunning mill and turned the water falls into a stunning, if not impossible, destination that only postcard lottery winners can attend.
While we may never win the coveted postcard lottery for a seat in Freedom, Maine, we can still capture the magic of seasonal celebrations. The Lost Kitchen isn’t simply a meal; it’s an experience that showcases each season’s bounty. Together at the Gables we too can create an unforgettable night inspired by stories and recipes.
Use either of her cookbooks The Lost Kitchen and Big Heart Little Stove and let everyone know what you will be making, in the comments section of this event.
Much larger and grander than our normal events, this dinner event is designed to include your loved ones! It's an evening to dress up, savor incredible food and drink, celebrate summer with our Feast Family, and create an unforgettable experience.
Tickets are $25 per person and will help cover venue fees, supplies, and more. Thank you, in advance, for purchasing your tickets and making all this possible!
LIBRARY BOOKS:
- The Lost Kitchen: copies in the Noble Network and the minuteman network.
- Big Heart Little Stove:Copies in the Noble network and the minuteman network.
MEDIA:
- 🎙️Be My Guest: Erin joins Ina Garten in the Hamptons
- 📺 Getting Lost with Erin French
- 📖 Lost in Translation from DownEast Magazine
WHAT TO PACK
- Your recipe
- Small containers to take home leftovers
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Tables + Chairs + Linen
- Linens, Tableware + Utensils
- Non-Alcoholic Beverages + Drinkware
TIPS + IDEAS
- Go out of your comfort zone. Try a new technique or work with ingredients you've never used before.
- There's no guarantee your dish will remain HOT by the time we are ready to eat. Consider recipes that not only travel well but can also be served at room temperature. Either way, you're welcome to bring a heating element, crock-pot, or warmer. Check with us first to see if there's an available outlet at the venue.
- Be sure to read through ALL of the recipe instructions beforehand to make sure you have the proper tools, dishes, and ingredients. (We’ve made that mistake and wound up empty-handed.)
FIRST TIME HERE?
Welcome! Keep reading...
INSTRUCTIONS : How our Cookbook Club works- RSVP via Meetup. The event fee (paid online) secures your seat. This automatically removes the cumbersome waitlist and maintains a consistent level of participation. All funds go toward venue rental fees and Meetup costs. If you would prefer to pay in cash, message me and I'll manually add you to the list. Thank you!
- Get your hands on the cookbook to flip through and pull a recipe. You can ask your library to retrieve it from their network, borrow from a friend, or purchase from a local retailer. If you're in a pinch, let me know, and I'll email you some snapshots of recipes to choose from.
- Pick at least 1 recipe to make for the event. Note: To avoid recipe duplication, take a moment to check the comments section and see which recipes have already been posted. Just in case, have a backup recipe selected in case your first choice is already taken.
- In the comments section below (not in the chat box), share which recipe you (and your guests, if any), will be bringing. Please do this at least 48 hours before our event, as we will print menus.
- Day of the event (or the day before). Prepare your recipe according to the directions provided in the cookbook. As tempting as it might be to alter the recipe or make a substitution, please follow the instructions as closely as possible. This will allow the group to truly experience the author's array of recipes. Note: No need to double the recipe. There will be more than enough food to enjoy!
- Packing your own place settings is one of the ways we hope to keep costs low. Make your plate, bowl, and silverware part of our story. Tell us about your vintage store finds or your aunt's wedding china you never use. There are endless variety and incredible backstories.
- Don't forget to bring some small containers to take home leftovers. You'll have the best lunch the following day, guaranteed.
Can’t wait to prepare + share,
Brenda and JimIN CLOSING
Full refunds are provided for cancellations at least 7 days prior to the event. In other words, if you have to cancel the day of (or within 7 days of the event), you unfortunately won't be able to get your money back. Let me know if you have any questions.This event wouldn't be possible if it weren't for YOU.
Can’t wait to prepare + share,
Brenda and Jim