Austin Food Blogger Alliance Cookbook Debuts in April

Community cookbooks are a treasured American tradition dating back over a hundred years, providing revealing snapshots of the culinary trends, popular ingredients, and entertaining styles in the individual communities they represent. A collection of recipes from cooks in a virtual community is the natural evolution in this time-honored practice.

The Austin Food Blogger Alliance was founded in 2011 and now has a membership of over 150 area food writers. For the past year, about half of the members have been hard at work on the group's first cookbook, contributing everything from recipes and recipe testing to food photography and design skills to complete the project. All their hard work was turned over to the History Press last fall and the book will be released in April. AFBA Advisory Council chairperson and board member Addie Broyes served as project manager on the cookbook, a job she describes as "a labor of love."

"The History Press is excited to be part of the Austin Food Blogger Alliance's first cookbook," said Becky LeJeune, Commissioning Editor of the History Press. "As part of our American Palate series, the cookbook illustrates the evolution of Texas and Austin food culture, providing a unique look at today's trends."

In order to raise the money for their own wholesale order of books, the Alliance recently launched a pre-sale campaign. Copies of the Austin Food Blogger Alliance Cookbook can be ordered on the group homepage via the PayPal link. Books are $25 each or $20 each with the purchase of 5 or more at a time. Proceeds from sales of the cookbooks will support classes and events sponsored by the Alliance, as well as their community philanthropy.