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Recipe Inc., located in Davis, California, specialize in rare, vintage,
and out-of-print cookbooks, recipe pamphlets, and culinary history
and criticism. Learn a little more about the
fascination with cookbooks, the art of manifold cooking, and the
cookbooks every chef should own.
How did you get started in bookselling?
I am an avid cook and cookbook collector. My fascination with
the cookbooks led me to establish a bookstore for our growing collection,
so that I could re-gain access to the living areas of our homes.
Bookselling is not the easiest way to make a living. What keeps you doing it?
I love the cookbooks and the recipes! I especially love
looking for the older vintage recipe pamphlets and cookbooks, which
have so much valuable information. Cookbooks create happy feelings--even
people who don't cook love cookbooks.
What is the most unusual book you ever bought?
 My
personal favorite is The Chinese
Festive Board,
a lovely book of Northern Chinese dishes originally published in
Shanghai in the 1930's. It has a laid-in red felt invitation
to a banquet, and lovely illustrations, including a how-to on
using chopsticks. Another favorite is Manifold
Destiny,
which teaches you how to cook under the hood of your car, and
answers the question, "How
many miles does it take to roast a chicken?"
How did you choose your specialty?
I think the cookbooks chose me.
Do you collect anything else?
Yes, bookshelves.
Do you have any legendary stories you tell
about incidents in your store or as a bookseller?
 No legends really. But I am
constantly amazed by the emotional attachments our customers have
to the vintage cookbooks, the ones their mothers and grandmothers
used. I truly enjoy hearing about favorite recipes hidden inside
our books.
Do you have a shop pet?
Yes: Trixie, a vintage Cocker spaniel,
and Bo the mixed lab Wonder Dog.
What books do you recommend?
 I always recommend basic Sunset cookbooks
to the beginning chef. The recipes are well-written, beautifully
illustrated and tested. I believe every chef needs a Fannie Farmer,
a James Beard, a Julia, and a Silver Palate. We also love Joy of
Cooking, Meta Givens, Moosewood Cookbook, and Huntley
Dent's The Feast of Santa Fe.
Any last words?
Bon Appetit!
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