A Celebration Of The Life And Work Of Debbie Berne And Her Book COOKBOOKING

Come celebrate the release of Cookbooking, and the life and work of Debbie Berne, and share your cookbook stories
About this Event

Join us at Mrs. Dalloway's Bookstore on Thursday, September 10 when we gather to celebrate the life and work of Debbie Berne and her just-released book Cookbooking: A Fan's Guide. Cookbook editor and consultant Leslie Jonath will moderate the conversation.

to order a copy of Cookbooking.

We invite you to bring a cookbook to share at the event. Bring your favorite, your most-used, your funniest or most bizarre find, anything you feel is noteworthy or has a good story behind it. All cookbooks are welcome!

Please let us know in advance which cookbook you'll be bringing, so our event moderators can prepare. You (and your book!) may be called on during the event. Click here to fill out the online form.

Book Description:

An eclectic, visually stunning pop-history, Cookbooking explores the most influential and beloved cookbooks through photographs, listicles, graphics, and snappy writing.

Subjects include: a visual history of cookbook design; what’s the matter with front matter?; the diet cookbooks we’ve starved for; the proliferation of French cookbooks, hippie cookbooks, TV-show cookbooks; and so much more. In short, Cookbooking is a celebration of the genre and an exploration of what makes books filled with recipes so engaging, collectable, and such excellent companions in bed.

This is a book for cookbook collectors and casual fans alike. Whether you're looking for cool cookbooks to add to your shelf or searching for a unique gift to give the foodie in your life, Cookbooking is sure to surprise and delight.

DEBBIE BERNE was a much-celebrated professional freelance book designer, designing hundreds of books and covers in genres across the board. In 2024, she wrote and designed her first book, The Design of Books. Her second book, Cookbooking, was published in August 2026

LESLIE JONATH is the founder and principal of Connected Dots Media, where she consults for publishers, brands, and artists on books and multiplatform media. Previously an editorial and creative director at Chronicle Books for nearly two decades, she is the author of several books, including the New York Times bestseller Bee & Me. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

THIS EVENT is free but registration is requested. Registration ends at 6:00 pm on September 10.

BECAUSE SEATING is limited, please register only if you plan to attend.

DUE TO SPACE limitations, we may not be able to accommodate every person at an event, so early registration is encouraged.

WALK-INS will be accommodated only if space allows.

WE ASK that attendees arrive between 6:45 and 7:00 PM for the event.

PLEASE leave your non-support companion animals at home.

OUR shared restrooms are not accessible after 6:30 PM, please plan accordingly.