Book & Cooks: The History

03 Dec Book & Cooks: The History

In the summer of 2009, Chef Bud Thomas and his wife Jenna came to Telluride’s Wilkinson Public Library to teach children how to make peanut butter and jelly crepes.

“Knowing how much our daughter Hazel loves cooking, we were thrilled to offer this instructional opportunity to every kid in the area,” remembers Thomas.

Scott Doser, program coordinator for the library, believed the initial class could grow into an incredible monthly program for the community, one that would feature local and national chefs preparing their favorite recipes from cook books that could be checked out on site.

“Cooking shows are so popular, the idea of creating a library program based upon cooking demonstrations seemed logical and timely,” explains Doser.

Three years later, Books & Cooks has grown to feature more than 20 different chefs and 36 different recipes. Visitors to Telluride’s Wilkinson Public Library can now expect  to find Chef Bud will be in the Program Room at noon the first Tuesday of every month, local and national chefs, renowned food writers and cooking aficionados at his side, preparing dishes that are sure to please.

Over the past three years, dishes prepared by chefs at Books and Cooks amount to an encyclopedia of both popular and more obscure recipes: sushi and barbeque to chicken liver pate and the Danish sweet Ebelskiver, surprising and satisfying patron’s taste buds. Chefs that have visited Books & Cooks include sushi chef Brady Pitt from the Pescado Sushi Bar, Jerry Greene from Baked in Telluride, Lucas Price from La Cocina de Luz, Amy Helck from The Divide Ranch and Country Club, Sarah Mandell owner and operator of Flourish to Thrive Catering, food writer and anthropologist Dr. Susanna Hoffman, and of course Jenna and Hazel Thomas from ChefBud Catering.

Dr. Susanna Hoffman, one of the most popular chefs to visit Books & Cooks, is featured at the close of 2011 season, demonstrating a variety of techniques for preparing and cooking elk and buffalo meat.

For the 2012 season, the Wilkinson Public Library has secured both returning and new chefs to participate in the program: Blakely Stein from JB and Me Catering kicks off the season with a delicious item from her popular organic menu, Sarah Mandell returns to discuss gluten-free dishes in February, and  author of The Elixir of Life Cookbook, Lisa Dahl, comes to town in March.

To view a montage featuring some of the best moments from Books & Cooks, check out the following video: