Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today's episode is for the chef, the dietitian, the culinary professional who has a cookbook in them, and who has also been told that getting published means getting on TikTok.

If you've ever had your teenager laugh at you for trying to "be on camera," or quietly wondered whether your cookbook dream is dead simply because you refuse to perform for an algorithm, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What publishers actually mean when they say "platform" and why it's not what you think

• The real difference between building trust and chasing an algorithm

• Why your years of professional expertise may already be your biggest advantage

• Whether it's really too late to start building an audience today

• A different way to think about "platform" that doesn't involve a single dance move

If you're a dietitian, chef, or culinary professional who wants to publish a cookbook with a traditional publishing house, I invite you to join my upcoming Grow Your Audience masterclass. You'll learn how to build an audience publishers value, without relying on social media algorithms, by creating a community, sharing your message, and testing cookbook ideas with the people who will eventually become your readers.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Register for the Grow Your Cookbook Audience class

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today, I'm joined by Dora Ramirez. Dora Ramirez didn't set out to reinvent Mexican cuisine. She wanted to uncover the stories, ingredients, and traditions that were already there.

Before we get started:

If you're a dietitian, chef, or culinary professional who wants to publish a cookbook with a traditional publishing house, I invite you to join my upcoming Grow Your Audience masterclass. You'll learn how to build an audience publishers value — without relying on social media algorithms — by creating a community, sharing your message, and testing cookbook ideas with the people who will eventually become your readers. Register for upcoming Grow Your Cookbook Audience class

In today's episode, I talk with Dora about the journey behind Comida Casera: More Than 100 Vegan Recipes from Traditional to Modern Mexican Dishes, her James Beard Award-winning cookbook celebrating the indigenous roots and plant-based traditions of Mexican cuisine.

Born in Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico, Dora came to the United States to attend the Culinary Institute of America before building a career as a chef, recipe developer, food photographer, and content creator. Her cookbook grew from a desire to share a deeper story about Mexican food — one centered on history, culture, and the ingredients that have shaped the cuisine for generations.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Dora transformed her personal experience and culinary background into a unique cookbook concept

• Why Comida Casera focuses on uncovering indigenous Mexican plant-based foundations rather than simply adapting recipes

• How she documented recipes and stories from indigenous cooks across Mexico

• The thought process behind organizing a cookbook as a journey through Mexican culinary traditions

• What it was like to see her nearly three-year cookbook project recognized with a James Beard Award

Dora also shares her new online cookbook club, where she explores historical Mexican cookbooks and brings their recipes and stories to a new audience.

Dora's story is also a reminder that a cookbook begins long before the manuscript is written. It starts with understanding your unique perspective, knowing the story you want to share, and building a community of readers who care about your work. If you're a dietitian, chef, or culinary professional who wants to publish a cookbook with a traditional publishing house, I invite you to join my upcoming Grow Your Audience masterclass. You'll learn how to build an audience publishers value — without relying on social media algorithms — by creating a community, sharing your message, and testing cookbook ideas with the people who will eventually become your readers.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Register for upcoming Grow Your Cookbook Audience class

Dora Ramirez

Comida Casera by Dora Ramirez

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today, I'm joined by Sarah Trad, author of A House in the Lebanese Mountains: Recipes and Stories from Beit Trad.

Before we get started, I'd love your help. I'm creating a brand-new class for aspiring cookbook authors who want to build the audience publishers are looking for. If you've ever wondered how to grow your visibility, connect with future readers, or strengthen your cookbook proposal before pitching publishers, I'd love to hear what questions you want answered. I've put together a quick, two-question survey, and your feedback will help shape the class. If you'd like to be the first to know when enrollment opens, you can leave your name and email at the end of the survey.

Now, let's meet Sarah. Sarah is the founder of Beit Trad, a beautifully restored guest house in the Lebanese mountains, and the author of A House in the Lebanese Mountains. In our conversation, we discuss:

• How restoring her family's ancestral home inspired a cookbook that preserves recipes, culture, and family history.

• Why hospitality, generosity, and gathering around the table become even more meaningful during times of conflict.

• The thoughtful process of creating a cookbook that is both visually stunning and approachable for home cooks.

• What cookbook authors can learn about creating a lasting legacy through food and storytelling.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Survey for upcoming class

Beit Trad

Sarah Trad on Instagram

Recettes Faciles by Françoise Bernard

Books by Trish Deseine