Cookbook Club Naarm: A Culinary Adventure Uniting Strangers
Bridget's journey begins with a mix of excitement and nerves. As she drives, her mind races with thoughts of the unique dish she's about to share. But the real challenge lies ahead—an experience that will push her beyond her comfort zone. And this is where Cookbook Club Naarm's magic unfolds.
Bridget, a novice at the club, has crafted a fusion masterpiece: gochujang orecchiette topped with burrata, pancetta, and furikake pangrattato. Her focus on cooking didn't prepare her for the social aspect. But that's the beauty of this monthly gathering—strangers uniting over a shared cookbook, creating a feast together.
The chosen cookbook for this warm Sunday evening in Melbourne's Collingwood is 'Lucky Dragon Supper Club' by Stephanie Feher, a Sydney-based home cook and dinner party enthusiast. Bridget meets Saloni, who prepared a shredded potato stir-fry, and they joke about the club being an introvert's dream come true. Abby, with her XO egg fried rice, chimes in, emphasizing the ease of conversation when everyone has food in common.
But Cookbook Club Naarm offers more than just a foodie gathering. It's a powerful reminder that food tastes best when shared and made with love and care. And the story of its founders, Joan Tran and Dominique Lonsdale, adds a deeper layer to this culinary adventure.
The club's origins are a tale of friendship and connection. Joan and Dom, both 27, felt a growing distance between them. Joan, feeling lonely after living interstate, and Dom, seeking new experiences and perspectives, found their solution in a cookbook club. They wanted to create an affordable alternative to supper clubs, where strangers dine together in unusual locations, often at a high cost.
Their club's popularity is evident, with $8 tickets selling out in minutes. Cindy, who brought a smashed cucumber salad, compares it to the frenzy of getting tickets to a Taylor Swift concert. Each month, Joan and Dom secure a free venue and create a spreadsheet for attendees to choose recipes, even including ingredient costs for convenience.
Dom's philosophy is inclusive: "Cooking is something everyone can do, especially with a recipe. No one is excluded based on age, skill, or finances." And this inclusivity extends to the featured cookbooks, often showcasing Australian authors, like Kon Karapanagiotidis, who wrote 'Philoxenia: A Seat at My Table' with his mother, Sia.
Kon's book, a collection of Greek classics made vegetarian, preserves his family's history. His grandparents fled genocide, and his parents migrated to Australia, leaving poverty behind. Kon, the founder of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, emphasizes the importance of food in migrant and refugee experiences: "Food is our social armor, inviting curiosity about our cultures and creating connections. It's how we find safety and a sense of belonging."
Kon's message resonates with Joan and Dom, both children of refugees and migrants. Joan's family escaped the Vietnam War and Cambodia's Khmer Rouge, while Dom's mother fled Pinochet's Chile. Their shared history and love for food bind them to the club's mission.
Despite the club's success, Joan and Dom resist commercializing it. They've turned down offers to partner with brands, prioritizing the community they've built. Their friend Hamish, attending his second club event, admires their stance, noting how rare it is to have hobbies without monetization these days. Instead, they've gained a network of food-loving friends, welcoming people from all walks of life.
The club's impact is evident in stories like that of a father and daughter who attended a meet-up featuring Thi Le's 'Việt Kiều'. The daughter brought her father, hoping to rekindle his passion for cooking and create a shared memory. They prepared bánh cuốn, a delicate Vietnamese dish, and the room erupted in celebration when chef Thi Lee praised their creation.
Cookbook Club Naarm offers a unique space where cooking becomes a universal language, breaking down social barriers and fostering genuine connections. And that's the secret ingredient that keeps this club so special.
