Cookbook Club: Spicebox Kitchen with Linda Shiue, MD

Cookbook Club is more than just an book talk; it's a unique opportunity for food enthusiasts to gather and connect on a deeper level. Our Cookbook Club gatherings at Saluhall Cookery Skola are limited to 18 people, and the ticket price includes a copy of Spicebox Kitchen by Dr. Linda Shiue.

During our participatory reception from 6:00 to 6:15 pm, engage in interactive activities designed to spark conversations and connections. Learn how to build flavor at our materials exploration table, which will showcase a plethora of spices. There will also be small bites using recipes from the cookbook, as well as a book exploration table with selections of related content provided for perusing and borrowing by the Mechanics’ Institute Library.

Starting at 6:15 pm, Dr. Linda Shiue will discuss her journey in writing her first cookbook with Kirsten Goldberg, the Director of the Saluhall Cookery Skola. After their conversation, we will participate in a short cooking demo featuring recipes from the cookbook highlighting different cultures, before ending the night with small bites*, a Q&A and cookbook signing. You'll be taking home not just your newly-signed cookbook, but memories of a delightful evening filled with new connections and culinary inspirations.

*While we are offering small bites at towards the end of the event, it is not a full meal. We recommend eating a meal before arriving or getting food at Saluhall -- registrants for this event will receive 15% off on all Saluhall outlets and bars on the day of the event.

About the Cookbook and Author

"I like to think of a spicebox as the cook's equivalent of a doctor's bag–containing the essential tools to use in the art of cooking. Learning to use spices is the best way to add interest and vibrancy to simple home cooking."
—from the Introduction
In her first cookbook, chef and physician Linda Shiue puts the phrase "let food be thy medicine" to the test. With 175 vegetarian and pescatarian recipes curated from her own kitchen, Dr. Shiue takes you on a journey of vibrant, fresh flavors through a range of spices from amchar masala to za'atar. With a comprehensive "Healthy Cooking 101" chapter, lists of the healthiest ingredients out there, and tips for prevention, Spicebox Kitchen is a culinary wellness trip you can take in your own kitchen.

LINDA SHIUE, MD, Chef is an internal medicine and lifestyle medicine physician, professionally trained chef, and the Director of Culinary Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco, where she founded Thrive Kitchen, a teaching kitchen for patients, as well as a concierge consultation service in Lifestyle Medicine and Culinary Medicine. Her first cookbook, Spicebox Kitchen, was a 2022 Gold Award Winner in the Nautilus Book Awards and a Finalist in the 2022 IACP Awards. Her food writing has been published widely and she has been interviewed frequently on television, radio and in print. You can connect with Dr. Shiue on Twitter and Instagram at @spiceboxtravels, on Facebook and YouTube at @TheDoctorsSpicebox and follow her culinary adventures at SpiceboxTravels.com.

About the Interlocutor

KIRSTEN GOLDBERG leads the Cookery Skola at Saluhall Market, bringing decades of culinary experience to her role. After honing her craft in kitchens in San Francisco, Shanghai, Prague, and New York City, she returned to her native Bay Area to serve as Culinary Director at San Francisco Cooking School. Prior to Saluhall's opening, she immersed herself in Nordic culinary traditions, working alongside the Claus Meyer team in Copenhagen to develop the Cookery Skola's comprehensive curriculum. Kirsten's warm teaching style and extensive knowledge make her a natural educator who delights in sharing her passion for cooking with others.

About Cookbook Club at Mechanics' Institute

Launched in June 2024, Cookbook Club at Mechanics' Institute celebrates the literary art of cookbooks as a vibrant medium for sharing culture through food and fostering community. Experience food writing not just as words on a page, but as an embodied and relational practice that brings us together through the joy of cooking and sharing food. Our Cookbook Club programming for the 2024-2025 season features local Bay Area women food writers, including Viola Buitoni, Bebe Carminito, Maria Finn, and Dr. Linda Shiue.

Cancellation policy:

For each Cookbook Club gathering, we reserve the right to cancel at any time and issue a full refund. If you are unable to attend this gathering, please email [email protected] or call 415-393-0103 by Monday, January 13, 2025, to receive a full refund less any non-refundable ticketing fees which may be applicable. All fees must be paid at the time of registration. After Monday, January 13, 2025 no refunds will be issued.

Host or Publisher Mechanics' Institute