November Patterson Park Cookbook Club

Hosted by local hobby-baker and cook (@challahbake_girl), Courtney Lennon, in partnership with Friends of Patterson Park, this free cookbook club will meet in the Cedar House.

Instead of reading a novel, all members will cook from the same cookbook. Before each meeting, you'll choose a recipe from the featured cookbook, prepare it at home, and bring it to share with the group. During the gathering, we'll enjoy a potluck-style meal, get to know one another, and discuss our favorite recipes, cooking techniques, and the cookbook itself.

Whether you're an experienced home cook or simply enjoy trying new recipes, everyone is welcome. The goal is to build community through a shared love of food.

Korean American by Eric Kim

New York Times staff writer Eric Kim grew up in Atlanta, the son of two Korean immigrants. Food has always been central to his story, from Friday-night Korean barbecue with his family to hybridized Korean-ish meals for one—like Gochujang-Buttered Radish Toast and Caramelized-Kimchi Baked Potatoes—that he makes in his tiny New York City apartment. In his debut cookbook, Eric shares these recipes alongside insightful, touching stories and stunning images shot by photographer Jenny Huang.
Playful, poignant, and vulnerable, Korean American also includes essays on subjects ranging from the life-changing act of leaving home and returning as an adult, to what Thanksgiving means to a first-generation family, complete with a full holiday menu—all the while teaching readers about the Korean pantry, the history of Korean cooking in America, and the importance of white rice in Korean cuisine. Recipes like Gochugaru Shrimp and Grits, Salt-and-Pepper Pork Chops with Vinegared Scallions, and Smashed Potatoes with Roasted-Seaweed Sour Cream Dip demonstrate Eric's prowess at introducing Korean pantry essentials to comforting American classics, while dishes such as Cheeseburger Kimbap and Crispy Lemon-Pepper Bulgogi with Quick-Pickled Shallots do the opposite by tinging traditional Korean favorites with beloved American flavor profiles. Baked goods like Milk Bread with Maple Syrup and Gochujang Chocolate Lava Cakes close out the narrative on a sweet note.
In this book of recipes and thoughtful insights, especially about his mother, Jean, Eric divulges not only what it means to be Korean American but how, through food and cooking, he found acceptance, strength, and the confidence to own his story.

-Register for the event (currently, space is limited to 25 participants).

-After registering, you'll receive a confirmation email with:

----A link to where the featured cookbook is being sold by our local Baltimore book retailers.

----A link to our shared recipe sign-up sheet so everyone brings something different.

----Meeting details.

----A few reminders about what to bring.

-Choose your recipe, prepare it at home, and bring it to the meeting.

-Share your dish, enjoy everyone else's creations, and connect with neighbors around the table.

Each meeting will feature a different cookbook, and attendees will have the opportunity to help choose future selections.

We can't wait to cook, share, and build community with you, one cookbook at a time.