We invite you to join Jikoni the #JikoniCookbookClub. Each season our editor Kiano will select a cookbook that will take your taste buds on an international adventure. It’s very similar to a book club, but with delicious food! In this club we will enjoy food from all over the world, cooking dishes from incredible cookbooks that teach about regional cuisines and culture, that you can then share with your loved ones. 

Summer’s cookbook is Ethiopia by Yohanis Gebreyesus fitting within this year’s theme ‘Travel from Home’. Ethiopian born Chef Yohanis trained in France and in gourmet kitchens in California before returning to Ethiopia where has has gone on to host several food shows. In addition to the recipes, this book is abundant in photographs of everyday life in various regions of Ethiopia, tales of history, agriculture, and tradition.

Thanks to a plethora on online book stores, as well as independent bookstores with free online shipping, a journey into a new culinary culture is as easy as one-click away. In no way is it a replacement of enjoying a dish in the energy of a foreign city, but there is a special experience around making a new meal that’s brings about a tangible joy, especially in times where our travel is currently limited.

How Cookbook Club Works

1. Get the Book & Gather Some Friends

Find some friends who LOVE to explore new recipes and get the cookbook. Jikoni community members can connect on the Cookbook Club forum .

2. Select a Dish

Everyone in your club picks a different recipe from the cookbook to make and bring to a potluck-style/virtual meetup. It works best if you each pick a course (ex. appetizer, protein, veg, grain, etc).

3. Set the Date

Set a date and time for your cookbook club potluck/virtual party! Host a potluck party (or a virtual meetup if you’re area is effected by Covid-19) where you can discuss the book while enjoying the dishes you all brought. For virtual meetups, you can explain your dish to your fellow club members.

4. Share your Dish

Follow the above steps and share your dishes with us on Instagram @jikonicreative and use the hashtag #JikoniCookbookClub and we will feature some of our favorites!

There is a different book selected each season, so be sure to follow along on Instagram and join our newsletter for new cookbook announcements.

Have a cookbook to recommend? We’d love to hear about it!