ABOUT us

We all have that memory of a great meal. The view was inspiring, the company enchanting, and the food? Oh, the food was so, so good. 

While we can't bring back the place (they closed 7 years ago and sold out to a chinchilla farm) or the company (he said he “didn't believe in labels”), we can bring you the food. Such good food, reminiscent of the best place-based cooking experiences. 

It has been said that food is memory. So think of each Signature Tastes cookbook as a culinary postcard: real restaurant recipes, local stories, and the delicious quirks that make a city or state… itself. If you’ve ever wished you could bring home that chowder from Boston, the beignets from New Orleans, or the gnocchi you still dream about—welcome, you’re among friends.

Signature Tastes cookbooks are a delightful series that focuses on place-based cooking, collecting authentic restaurant recipes alongside bite-sized history, chef notes, and a sprinkle of trivia. Our books cater to those who love to eat like a local, travel with their fork, and bring those unique flavors back to their own kitchen. They blend the essence of a cookbook, a travel diary, and a nostalgic 'remember that meal?' moment—featuring full-page photography and step-by-step recipes that you'll actually want to cook.

We don't stop there. To truly enjoy the food, you must grow the food. This concept, known as terroir by our French friends across the pond, embodies the taste of the place. But who wants to spend all their time doing back-breaking work? Enter Ruth Stout, everyone's gardening grandmother, who offers us cookies before dinner and advises us not to work too hard. Being lazy never tasted so good.

Additionally, we can't help but reflect on the wisdom of Whitney Houston, who reminded us that the children are our future… teaching them well and allowing them to lead the way. A child that eats well is a child that lives well. To create something special, we consulted the premier experts in the field, Ms. Johnson's 3rd grade class, to produce Eat A Zoo! This menagerie of meals elevates playing with your food to a whole new plate—uh, plane.

Most importantly, we thank you for your time and attention. You could have chosen to explore countless sites online, yet you came here. We've been able to share our passion for place-based cooking for 15 years, and we could not have done it without you.

Scout: We research beloved local restaurants and uncover hidden gems, focusing on iconic dishes that showcase place-based cooking. 

Partner: We work directly with chefs to document real restaurant recipes.

Tell the story: We fold in origin tales, neighborhood flavor, and the people behind the plates, capturing the essence of our Signature Tastes cookbooks. 

Test & photograph: If it isn’t cookable or craveable, it doesn’t make the cut. 

Publish: You get a gorgeous, gift-able cookbook that doubles as a culinary travel guide.

Authenticity over gimmicks: Real restaurants, real recipes, real stories. 

Accessibility: You can cook this. Your teenager can cook this. Your neighbor who doesn’t measure can cook this. It's all about place-based cooking that anyone can enjoy.

Community: Food connects people; our Signature Tastes cookbooks spotlight the folks who make that magic happen.

A wink and a smile: We take the food seriously—ourselves, not so much.

Need a quote, images, or a review copy of our Signature Tastes cookbooks? Want to collaborate on place-based cooking for a city, state, festival, or fundraiser? We’re game. Reach out via our contact page, and we’ll be in touch faster than you can preheat the oven.