Feast Cookbook Club

4.9•677 ratings

About us

If you're anything like us, you have an overwhelming number of cookbooks sitting nice + pretty on your shelves — yet there are volumes of recipes just waiting to be discovered + experienced. Such an undertaking must never be done alone.
Feast was launched by the extraordinary mind of Jessica Brand, a creative visionary who said, "Why not gather new + old friends together to start a cookbook club? Better yet, create a local Meetup Group!" Together we’ve shared a culinary adventure since the fall of 2015!
Once a month, we'll dive into a chosen cookbook, prepare a variety of recipes, and get together to taste + discuss. Think of it as a gourmet potluck. Each month we'll feature a different cookbook or blog, or author, and the group will meet for the most delicious gatherings throughout the North Shore.
Hear an Intro Video created by the founder of the Feast Cookbook Club and many of the original members — https://youtu.be/CAChqM-WzOY. Starting in the fall of 2024, Jessica has asked long-time members Brenda and Jim to continue the tradition.
All cooking levels are welcome . . . so don't be shy! Get ready to explore all sorts of new flavors while making new foodie friends.

Can’t wait to prepare + share,
Brenda + Jim

p.s. If you're single looking to mingle, then sadly, our group is not for you. We aim to keep our focus on the food + recipes while maintaining a friendly social environment. So, if you make more than one person feel uncomfortable, we'll have to respectfully block you from the group.

If you reserve a seat at our events and not show up (without prior notice), we will be bummed. If you do it again, you will respectfully be removed from the group. Thanks for your understanding!

Upcoming events

See all

$10.00
Flavors of the Sun
Sun, Apr 12 · 2:00 PM EDT
Hastings House, 14 Oak Street, Beverly, MA, US
Flavors of the Sun: The Sahadi's Guide to Understanding, Buying, and Using Middle Eastern Ingredients.

This book will make you want to hop on the train and head down to Sahadi's to explore the bulk bins and discover new tastes. Perfect for anyone interested in learning about spices and new ways to use them in everyday dishes, Flavors of the Sun features over 120 recipes organized into evocative sections like Bright, Savory, Spiced, Nutty, and Sweet.

Another favorite part of the book -the two-page spreads offering "Ten More Ways to Use _____" (za'atar, dukkah, mahlab) are packed with inspiration. And if there's an ingredient you can't find locally, you can always shop at the Sahadi's store online.

Fair warning: hard decisions ahead: Cherry hot cocoa mix? Harissa mac and cheese? Cardamom spiced chicken kebabs? So much to explore. Thank you Stephanie for the suggestion.

RESOURCES + INSPIRATION:
If you'd like to read the book, check out the Noble Network library link

WHAT TO PACK
1. Your recipe
2. Your plate, bowl, and silverware
3. Small containers to take home leftovers
WHAT'S INCLUDED
1. Tables + Chairs + Linen
2. Serving Utensils
3. Non-Alcoholic Beverages + Drinkware
TIPS + IDEAS
1. Go out of your comfort zone. Try a new technique or work with ingredients you've never used before.
2. There's no guarantee your dish will remain HOT by the time we are ready to eat. Consider recipes that not only travel well but can also be served at room temperature. Either way, you're welcome to bring a heating element, crock-pot, or warmer. Check with us first to see if there's an available outlet at the venue.
3. Be sure to read through ALL of the recipe instructions beforehand to make sure you have the proper tools, dishes, and ingredients. (We’ve made that mistake and wound up empty-handed.)
FIRST TIME HERE?
Welcome! Keep reading...
INSTRUCTIONS : How our Cookbook Club works
1. RSVP via Meetup. The event fee (paid online) secures your seat. This automatically removes the cumbersome waitlist and maintains a consistent level of participation. All funds go toward venue rental fees and Meetup costs. If you would prefer to pay in cash, message me and I'll manually add you to the list. Thank you!
2. Get your hands on the cookbook to flip through and pull a recipe. You can ask your library to retrieve it from their network, borrow from a friend, or purchase from a local retailer. If you're in a pinch, let me know, and I'll email you some snapshots of recipes to choose from.
3. Pick at least 1 recipe to make for the event. Note: To avoid recipe duplication, take a moment to check the comments section and see which recipes have already been posted. Just in case, have a backup recipe selected in case your first choice is already taken.
4. In the comments section below (not in the chat box), share which recipe you (and your guests, if any), will be bringing. Please do this at least 48 hours before our event, as we will print menus.
5. Day of the event (or the day before). Prepare your recipe according to the directions provided in the cookbook. As tempting as it might be to alter the recipe or make a substitution, please follow the instructions as closely as possible. This will allow the group to truly experience the author's array of recipes. Note: No need to double the recipe. There will be more than enough food to enjoy!
6. Packing your own place settings is one of the ways we hope to keep costs low. Make your plate, bowl, and silverware part of our story. Tell us about your vintage store finds or your aunt's wedding china you never use. There are endless variety and incredible backstories.
7. Don't forget to bring some small containers to take home leftovers. You'll have the best lunch the following day, guaranteed.

Can’t wait to prepare + share,
Brenda and Jim
10 attendees
$10.00
Good Things: recipes and rituals to share with people you love
Sun, May 10 · 2:00 PM EDT
Espacio, 105 Congress Street, Salem, MA, US
Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love
If Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat taught you how to think about cooking, Good Things invites you into Samin Nosrat's kitchen to cook the things she actually makes for herself and the people she loves. This isn't a book about technique or theory—it's a collection of over 125 recipes that celebrate the rituals of everyday cooking and the joy of gathering around a table.
Samin describes her book as a "treasure chest" of her favorite things: ricotta custard pancakes, saffron-burnished roast chicken, Calabrian chili crisp, sky-high focaccia, and a childhood yellow cake with chocolate frosting.

Along the way, you'll pick up tips on everything from checking the harvest date on olive oil to knowing when to splurge on the best ingredients (hint: salad dressing).
What makes this book special is how it weaves together recipes with stories about connection, ritual, and what it means to cook for the people you care about. After the whirlwind success of her first book and Netflix series, Samin found herself reflecting on loneliness and belonging—realizing that cooking wasn't just about skill, but about creating moments of communion.

Good Things is the result: warm, generous, and deeply human. Plus, she named her dog Fava!

Fair warning: you'll want to make everything. Start anywhere—the French onion labneh dip, the chicken braised with apricots and harissa, or one of her famous seven salad dressings with three ways to use each.

RESOURCES + INSPIRATION
Noble Network library link has books, ebooks and kindle.

Please note: May was hard to find a date between graduation and some work commitments. I now know that I accidentally booked this event on Mother's Day but I paid for the venue back in November. Also a number of us are not near or no longer have family to share the day with, so you are invited to spend time in the Feast family + Good Things.

ABOUT THE SPACE
ESPACIO is a dynamic, 2,000+ square foot programming space within a newly-renovated affordable housing development on Congress Street, a main commercial corridor in The Point neighborhood in Salem. We are excited to work with North Shore Community Development Coalition, Inc. to showcase the space. If you head to the area for shopping at a small market, you might also consider checking out the Open Air Museum. Located in El Punto Neighborhood in Salem, Mass, it features over 75 large scale murals by 30 world renowned and 25 local artists within a 3 block radius.

WHAT TO PACK
1. Your recipe
2. Your plate, bowl, and silverware
3. Small containers to take home leftovers
WHAT'S INCLUDED
1. Tables + Chairs + Linen
2. Serving Utensils
3. Non-Alcoholic Beverages + Drinkware
TIPS + IDEAS
1. Go out of your comfort zone. Try a new technique or work with ingredients you've never used before.
2. There's no guarantee your dish will remain HOT by the time we are ready to eat. Consider recipes that not only travel well but can also be served at room temperature. Either way, you're welcome to bring a heating element, crock-pot, or warmer. Check with us first to see if there's an available outlet at the venue.
3. Be sure to read through ALL of the recipe instructions beforehand to make sure you have the proper tools, dishes, and ingredients. (We’ve made that mistake and wound up empty-handed.)
FIRST TIME HERE?
Welcome! Keep reading...
INSTRUCTIONS : How our Cookbook Club works
1. RSVP via Meetup. The event fee (paid online) secures your seat. This automatically removes the cumbersome waitlist and maintains a consistent level of participation. All funds go toward venue rental fees and Meetup costs. If you would prefer to pay in cash, message me and I'll manually add you to the list. Thank you!
2. Get your hands on the cookbook to flip through and pull a recipe. You can ask your library to retrieve it from their network, borrow from a friend, or purchase from a local retailer. If you're in a pinch, let me know, and I'll email you some snapshots of recipes to choose from.
3. Pick at least 1 recipe to make for the event. Note: To avoid recipe duplication, take a moment to check the comments section and see which recipes have already been posted. Just in case, have a backup recipe selected in case your first choice is already taken.
4. In the comments section below (not in the chat box), share which recipe you (and your guests, if any), will be bringing. Please do this at least 48 hours before our event, as we will print menus.
5. Day of the event (or the day before). Prepare your recipe according to the directions provided in the cookbook. As tempting as it might be to alter the recipe or make a substitution, please follow the instructions as closely as possible. This will allow the group to truly experience the author's array of recipes. Note: No need to double the recipe. There will be more than enough food to enjoy!
6. Packing your own place settings is one of the ways we hope to keep costs low. Make your plate, bowl, and silverware part of our story. Tell us about your vintage store finds or your aunt's wedding china you never use. There are endless variety and incredible backstories.
7. Don't forget to bring some small containers to take home leftovers. You'll have the best lunch the following day, guaranteed.
Can’t wait to prepare + share,
Brenda and Jim
9 attendees
$20.00
A Midsummer Night's Feast: Joshua Fadden
Sun, Jun 21 · 6:00 PM EDT
The House of the Seven Gables, 115 Derby Street, Salem, MA, US
Our summer tradition continues at the historic House of Seven Gables in Salem by the beautiful garden on the harbor.

Six Seasons / Grains for Every Season / Six Seasons of Pasta
Joshua McFadden—chef, farmer, and self-described "vegetable whisperer"—spent time managing Maine's Four Season Farm, where he learned to coax the best from vegetables at each stage of their lives.

That philosophy shines through all three of his James Beard Award-winning cookbooks, each one organized around his belief that there aren't just four seasons, but six: spring, early summer, midsummer, late summer, fall, and winter.

Our event is nestled between early summer—with its herbal carrots, young roots, and early greens—and midsummer's bounty of sun-ripened produce, making any of these books perfect for the occasion.

A bit more about the books.
Six Seasons of Pasta is his newest (just released in 2025), and it's a love letter to everyone's favorite food. There are more than 125 recipes organized by season, plus Italian classics like Cacio e Pepe and Pasta Fagiole, with dishes like Artichokes with Tomatoes and Mint for spring and Baked Ziti with Broccoli Rabe for winter. The book teaches his "building-in-the-skillet" method for intuitively cooking perfect pasta from scratch.

Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables is where it all started. With 225 vegetable-centric recipes, the book features everything from raw preparations at the start of the season to braises and stews as weeks progress. Think bright salads you eat with your hands, cauliflower ragù, and asparagus frittatas with nettles and green garlic.

Grains for Every Season brings that same maximalist approach to flavor and texture to whole grains. With 200 recipes organized by grain type, you'll find everything from Meat Loaf with Barley and Mushrooms to Peanut Butter-Barley Cookies, from grain bowls to pizzas to desserts.

Pick whichever book (or books!) speaks to you—vegetables, grains, or pasta—and bring something that celebrates the season we're in.

Explore More:
MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S FEAST
Much larger and grander than our normal events, this dinner event is designed to include your loved ones! It's an evening to dress up, savor incredible food and drink, celebrate summer with our Feast Family, and create an unforgettable experience.

Tickets are $20 per person and will help cover venue fees, supplies, and more.

WHAT TO PACK
1. Your recipe
2. Small containers to take home leftovers
WHAT'S INCLUDED
1. Tables + Chairs + Linen + Plates + Dinnerware
2. Linens, Tableware + Utensils
3. Non-Alcoholic Beverages
TIPS + IDEAS
1. Go out of your comfort zone. Try a new technique or work with ingredients you've never used before.
2. There's no guarantee your dish will remain HOT by the time we are ready to eat. Consider recipes that not only travel well but can also be served at room temperature. Either way, you're welcome to bring a heating element, crock-pot, or warmer. Check with us first to see if there's an available outlet at the venue.
3. Be sure to read through ALL of the recipe instructions beforehand to make sure you have the proper tools, dishes, and ingredients. (We’ve made that mistake and wound up empty-handed.)
FIRST TIME HERE?
Welcome! Keep reading...
INSTRUCTIONS : How our Cookbook Club works
1. RSVP via Meetup. The event fee (paid online) secures your seat. This automatically removes the cumbersome waitlist and maintains a consistent level of participation. All funds go toward venue rental fees and Meetup costs. If you would prefer to pay in cash, message me and I'll manually add you to the list. Thank you!
2. Get your hands on the cookbook to flip through and pull a recipe. You can ask your library to retrieve it from their network, borrow from a friend, or purchase from a local retailer. If you're in a pinch, let me know, and I'll email you some snapshots of recipes to choose from.
3. Pick at least 1 recipe to make for the event. Note: To avoid recipe duplication, take a moment to check the comments section and see which recipes have already been posted. Just in case, have a backup recipe selected in case your first choice is already taken.
4. In the comments section below (not in the chat box), share which recipe you (and your guests, if any), will be bringing. Please do this at least 48 hours before our event, as we will print menus.
5. Day of the event (or the day before). Prepare your recipe according to the directions provided in the cookbook. As tempting as it might be to alter the recipe or make a substitution, please follow the instructions as closely as possible. This will allow the group to truly experience the author's array of recipes. Note: No need to double the recipe. There will be more than enough food to enjoy!
6. Packing your own place settings is one of the ways we hope to keep costs low. Make your plate, bowl, and silverware part of our story. Tell us about your vintage store finds or your aunt's wedding china you never use. There are endless variety and incredible backstories.
7. Don't forget to bring some small containers to take home leftovers. You'll have the best lunch the following day, guaranteed.
Can’t wait to prepare + share,
Brenda + Jim
9 attendees