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

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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

Molly and Kristin speak with Tuscany based cookbook author and wine bar owner Emiko Davies about her varied career and newest cookbook. Emiko shares her globetrotting journey to food writing and how her shifting interests over time show up in her work. She talks about including her passion for art, especially photography, in her work, how she got her initial book deals and how she works a consistent release schedule. She discusses the intersection of food and art in her work, why she wanted to demystify Japanese home cooking in her new book and what the recipe testing process was like. Emiko includes so much of her unique personality in her work and leaves us with some incredible words of advice.

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.

Emiko Davies

• Blog
• Website
• Substack
• Instagram

Torta della Nonna: A Collection of the Best Homemade Italian Sweets

Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show

• The Japanese Pantry: From Sake to Soy by Emiko Davies
• Gohan: Everyday Japanese Cooking: Memories and Stories from My Family's Kitchen by Emiko Davies
• Florentine: The True Cuisine of Florence by Emiko Davies
• Acquacotta: Recipes and Stories from Tuscany's Secret Silver Coast by Emiko Davies
• Tortellini at Midnight: And Other Heirloom Family Recipes from Taranto to Turin to Tuscany by Emiko Davies
• Cinnamon and Salt: Ciccheti in Venice: Small Bites From The Lagoon City by Emiko Davies