Honey House Vintage x Karina’s Confectioneries Cookbook Club

An Intro

Food is a boundless source of education and enjoyment. It makes the world a bigger and more connected place and is, perhaps, the only artform we can’t live without. Whether we’re hunting, gathering, cooking, or eating it, food is one of the most important ways humans have found to build and maintain community throughout the ages and across cultures.

Cooking for others is an act of love and, when food is shared as a group, it tastes even better. Not only because sharing the fruits of our labor shows care, but also because the stories we tell when we eat together add an extra depth of flavor that cannot be recreated in a solo setting. It’s an ephemeral kind of spice that cannot be measured, bottled, or sold. It can only be found in the in-between spaces of meaningful conversation, heartfelt laughter, and the satisfying clinking of metal on glass, suggesting empty plates and full bellies. It momentarily brings order to chaos and allows us to forget our troubles and the maddening realities of our current era.

Cookbooks are a fertile ground for exploration and, with the Cookbook Club, we hope to create a space where new and experienced cooks can meet new people and gather around the table to share a satisfying meal and great conversation. Along the way, we hope to expand our cooking skills, discover new cuisines, try dishes we might not otherwise attempt on our own, and learn from a diverse roster of cookbook authors.

In addition to sharing a meal, we will also spend some time discussing the book, going over what we did (or didn’t) like about it, and whether we will be adding it to our individual cookbook collections.

Although not required, we would love for this to be an unplugged gathering so we can all be present and engaged with the people around us.

How it Works

The Cookbook Club will meet quarterly at Honey House Vintage, located at 115 N Summerlin Ave, Orlando, FL 32801. For each meetup we will cook a selection of dishes from a different cookbook as voted on by the community. We will select a variety of different cookbooks and, before the next quarterly meetup, put them up for voting on Instagram.

Once a book has been selected, we will create a menu with a balanced mix of easy and complex dishes to allow everyone an opportunity to comfortably put their skills to the test regardless of culinary skill level. The signup sheet notification will be sent out 4-6 weeks before the next meetup to allow enough time for everyone to get a copy of the book/recipe, start gathering ingredients, and create a plan of action if needed.

Meetups will be limited to 8 attendees and signups are on a first come, first served basis.

We ask that everyone bring their own plates, cups, and utensils to minimize the need for single-use dinnerware. We also suggest bringing to-go containers for any leftovers.

Although the Cookbook Club is free to join and attend, each person will be responsible to cover the cost of the dish they choose to make.

At the end, we all help clean up! :)

Ingredient Substitutions

Although we highly encourage following the recipe as it is written so we can experience the dish as the author intended, we understand that there are instances in which a substitution is necessary. Whether it be due to ingredient availability, inaccessible pricing, or any number of insurmountable obstacles, we never want this to be a reason for anyone to feel like they can’t participate. We just ask that you let the group know when there’s been an ingredient substitution so we’re all fully informed.

A Note on Cooking Mistakes

Mistakes are bound to happen and that’s perfectly ok! We all have varying levels of cooking proficiency and, while some of us are expert-level, if not professionally-skilled home cooks, a few of us are more comfortable with opening a can and calling it dinner. The point of our Cookbook Club is to allow everyone to do as much (or as little) as they’re comfortable with while they develop their cooking skills. Most importantly, we want this to be fun for everyone and not a dreadful chore! If cooking is not your thing or you don’t have the space or tools to cook up an entire recipe, that’s ok! Just sign up for drinks until you feel confident enough to bring a dish.

Where to Get Cookbooks Without Breaking the Bank

One of the aims of the Cookbook Club is to make the experience as seamless and enjoyable as possible and, therefore, you are not required (or even expected) to buy every cookbook we use. With this in mind, we will mostly stay away from new releases so the books can be easier to find at the library or used book stores. If you’re having trouble locating an affordable copy of the book, just let us know and we will help you get a copy of the recipe you’ll be making.

The library is an excellent resource for cookbooks that you’re not sure you want to fully commit to just yet. You can borrow them for a specified period of time and, if there isn’t anyone else waiting for your copy, renew it until you’re ready to return the book (make sure to renew to avoid racking up late fees).

Another helpful library resource is the Libby app, which allows you to borrow electronic books via your library membership.

You can also check out your local used book store to see if they happen to have a copy of the book, though this might be a long shot since their inventories are hard to predict.

Alternatively, you can find used books online at the following websites:

We’ll add more as we discover them but, to start, here are a few local used bookstores:

  • Brightlight Books in Casselberry (161 East State Road 436, Semoran Blvd, Fern Park, FL 32730)

  • Book Rack in Ocoee (125 W McKey St, Ocoee, FL 34761)

  • Best Used Books in Longwood (880 S US Hwy 17 92, Longwood, FL 32750)

  • Walls of Books in Oviedo (119 N Central Ave #1001, Oviedo, FL 32765)

The following are independent bookstores (some local, some not) where you can get brand-new cookbooks. Most indie booksellers are happy to help you obtain a company of a book that they’re not currently carrying, so don’t be afraid to ask!

Cancellations

If you signed up for a dish but have to cancel for any reason, just let us know as early as possible so we can have enough time to find someone else to take your spot.

You can reach us via email at hello@karinasconfectioneries.com.

Waitlist

If you weren’t able to secure a spot for this quarter’s meetup, please indicate in the signup sheet whether you’d like to be added to the waitlist. In the event of a cancellation, we’ll reach out to members on the waitlist in the order in which requests were received.

We will try to give as much notice as possible, but the timing will depend on how far in advance we receive the cancellation. Please keep this in mind as a courtesy to our fellow Cookbook Club members if you find yourself needing to cancel.