Behind the Recipes: The Cookbook Club at Fearrington Village

Join The Local Palate Cookbook Club at Fearrington Village for a two-day culinary celebration where food, stories, and Southern hospitality come together. Featuring cookbook authors Melissa M. Martin (Bayou: Feasting Through the Seasons of a Cajun Life) and Von Diaz (Islas: A Celebration of Tropical Cooking), these intimate events bring their recipes and personal stories to life through thoughtfully crafted dishes and engaging conversations.

• Food, cocktails, and a lively author conversation during Thursday's reception
• A multi-course luncheon paired with wine, featuring recipes from the authors’ cookbooks on Friday
• Inspiring conversations with Melissa M. Martin and Von Diaz, moderated by The Local Palate's Editor-in-Chief Erin Byers Murray
• Cookbooks available for purchase from McIntyre’s Books
• Beautiful setting at Fearrington Village, just outside Chapel Hill, NC
• Optional VIP meet & greet tickets available for an exclusive author experience

Enjoy an exclusive opportunity to connect one-on-one with authors Melissa M. Martin and Von Diaz before the evening’s festivities begin. This intimate session offers a chance to chat personally, ask questions, and have your cookbooks signed by the authors themselves. Limited tickets available for this special prelude to Tasting Notes.

Ease into the weekend with a flavorful evening of conversation, small bites, and signature sips at Fearrington Village. Enjoy tastes inspired by recipes from Bayou and Islas, then settle in for a thoughtful discussion with cookbook authors Melissa M. Martin and Von Diaz, moderated by The Local Palate Editor-in-Chief Erin Byers Murray. It’s an inviting first course to a weekend celebrating food, storytelling, and Southern hospitality.

Sit down to an unforgettable multi-course luncheon where the stories of the South and Latin America unfold on every plate. Inspired by the celebrated cookbooks Bayou and Islas, each course pays tribute to the heritage, flavors, and personal histories shared by authors Melissa M. Martin and Von Diaz. Thoughtfully prepared by the Fearrington House culinary team and paired with sommelier-selected wines, the afternoon invites guests to dine in the company of the authors themselves—sharing in the conversation, culture, and connections that only a meal like this can offer. A true feast for the senses and the soul.

Cookbooks will be available to purchase on-site through McIntyre’s Books.

Host or Publisher The Local Palate