Don Lindgren on Collecting Cooking Books
Researching \u2018literary\u2019 Portland (Maine) before trekking down there, I came across mention of Rabelais Book shop. What an interesting concept it\u2019s built upon:\xa0 the vertical integration of new titles on food, wine, gardening and farming, with rare out-of-print\xa0 books. Patrons therefore inhabit several distinct categories:\xa0Book lovers and collectors from around the globe, food lovers and cooks from around the block. Situated in Portland\u2019s East End next door to Hugo\u2019s (chef Rob Evans won the 2009 James Beard award for Best Chef Northeast) and within walking distance of half a dozen other great restaurants, including Bresca, Duckfat and Fore Street, the store, in several short years, has become the go-to place for New England\u2019s foodies. Hosting author readings, art exhibits, film showings/dinners and\xa0 Slow Food meetings, the shop is a jointly owned by Samantha Hoyt Lindgren, a former photo editor and pastry chef, and her husband Don, an antiquarian book dealer. I met with Don at Hugo\u2019s \u2013 we thought it would be quieter there than in the store \u2013 to talk food and books\u2026listen for the names of titles you might want to start collecting.\xa0
\xa0