itinerant cookbook project (first post)

I know the name of this project may seem puzzling to some. Imagine a cookbook traveling from hand to hand, kitchen to kitchen, city to city, continent to continent, with all “traveling” being recorded and documented.
This is the intent of the project. I got this idea when I came accross the website wheresgeorge.com, which tracks dollar bills as they get exchanged and travel accross the country and the world. We released 10 cookbooks to 10 local home chefs. We encouraged them to make a recipe and pass the book along to a friend, wherever that friend lives, who will in turn do the same to keep the project going. We ask every generation of home chef to email us before making the recipe, and after. We then track the cookbooks with Google maps as they travel accross the planet.

 Where are the Itinerant Cookbooks now?

View Itinerant Cookbook Project in a larger map

Frequently Asked Questions:

Do you guys have too much time on your hands? Why is this thing interesting?
We think it will be extremely interesting to follow the cookbooks as they travel across the planet. Who received them, where do they live, which recipe was made, and the comments from each participant. Also, following each track of all the itinerant cookbooks with google maps should be very interesting. Where will they all go next? Paris, Tokyo, Key West, Antartica, New York City?..

What do I have to do if I receive a cookbook from someone participating in the project?
Not much. Upon receipt, all you’ll have to do is emailing us your location and your first name, make a recipe of your choice, mark the recipe so it isn’t reproduced down the road, and give the cookbook to someone else. It could be a friend, family member, or someone you barely know. And the “recipient” could be living in the US or anywhere else in the world. Make sure they are interested in the project and will keep the cookbook traveling. Once the cookbook has left your home, email us so we can track the date of release, and where the cookbook is going (first name of recipient, city and email address). That’s it.
Optionally, you may choose to send us a comment about the recipe, and the conditions in which you prepared and served the dish. We’ll be happy to get that kind of info to keep things interesting.

What do I do if there is only one recipe in the cookbook?
If there is only one recipe left in the cookbook, it means that you are the last home chef in the chain. You owe it to everyone involved in the project to prepare the last recipe, then send back the cookbook to us, here in Tampa, FL (see contact page).

How do you handle my contact info? Is that anonymous?
Apart from your first name, and your location (city), we will not post anything else. No email address. No phone number. No full name.

Why do you need an email address, then?
Good question. Your email address will not be shared with anyone. We only ask for it for tracking purposes and in case the chain breaks somehow. Also, if a participant takes too long to make a recipe and pass the cookbook along, we will gently remind them.

How do I start?
Just email us back and tell us you got a participating cookbook. We’ll need the isbn + project code number, your first name and the city where you live.

Can I participate too?
You sure can. But for now, we only released 10 cookbooks, and we invited the 10 “root” recipients. We will likely release others and we would be glad to put your name on the waiting list. Just email us your intentions.

Who provided the cookbooks?
Our book sponsor, Wiley, has been extremely supportive of our project since the beginning, and have provided complimentary copies of all the itinerant cookbooks. You can visit their website by clicking here, or buy their cookbooks here.

Where can I buy one or several of the itinerant cookbooks?
We’re glad you asked. You can click here and go to the “Itinerant Cookbook Project” link to see the 10 cookbooks that were released. Every amazon.com purchase you make through this site will get us a tiny commision.

 
Where are the Itinerant Cookbooks now?

View Itinerant Cookbook Project in a larger map

Here are the Itinerant Cookbooks:

Started in Tampa, FL with Margaret. Was in Tampa, FL with Noel, in Mt Elgin, Ontario with Rosemary. Now in York, Ontario, with Janice.

Started in Brandon, FL with Dave. Now in Brandon, FL with Dave.

Started in Nice, France with Marc-Antoine. Was in Bar-sur-loup with Faye. Now in Exeter, UK with Judie.

Started in St Petersburg, FL with Janet. Now in St Petersburg, FL with Janet.

Started in Dunedin, FL with Janis. Traveled to Chicago. Now in San Francisco, CA with Liz.

Started in Gainesville, FL with Esther. Traveled to Amsterdam, Netherlands. Now in Tokyo, Japan with Martin.

Started in Plant City with Lynne. Traveled to Ann Arbor, MI with Horace.

Started in Largo, FL with Marty. Was in Madeira Beach, FL with Carol. Now with Sharon in Brandon, Mississipi.

Started in Brandon, FL with Debbie. Now in Tampa, FL with Jeff.

Started in Dunedin with Bob. Traveled to Chicago with Bob. Now in NY with Dan.

Thank you to our book sponsor, Wiley. Please check their website here.