Cookbook Club: Forage. Gather. Feast.
with Maria Finn

This inaugural session of Cookbook Club is more than just a book talk; it's a unique opportunity for food enthusiasts to gather and connect on a deeper level. Our Cookbook Club gatherings are limited to 25 people, and the ticket price includes a copy of Forage. Gather. Feast.: Recipes from West Coast Forests, Shores, & Urban Spaces by Maria Finn.

During our participatory reception from 6:00 to 6:30 pm, engage in interactive activities designed to spark conversations and connections. Wander through the ingredients at our materials exploration table, showcasing foraged ingredients from a forest ecosystem. Share your stories and memories evoked by the scents and textures of these natural treasures. Find "lines of inspiration" by delving into our book exploration table - a curated selection of related books provided for perusing and borrowing by the Mechanics’ Institute Library.

Starting at 6:30 pm, dive into a captivating conversation featuring Maria Finn, the author of our cookbook selection, Forage. Gather. Feast. Author Maria Finn will discuss her inspiration, the process behind her culinary creations, and the rich stories woven into every recipe. Join us in exploring how these foraged materials bring her recipes to life. Cap off the evening by getting your cookbook signed. You'll be taking home not just your newly-signed cookbook, but memories of a delightful evening filled with new connections and culinary inspirations.

This event is co-presented by Flora and Fungi Adventures, which curates small group, hands-on foraging, fishing, and cooking excursions crafted to deepen our relationships with the natural world. Mechanics' Institute members and Cookbook Club attendees will receive 20% off future Flora and Fungi Adventure excursions in the Bay Area, as well as 20% off of all cooking classes at Saluhall Cookery Skola in August, including Maria Finn's cooking class on Wednesday, August 14 (5:00-8:30 pm) by using the promo code: MECHANICS20.

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MARIA FINN, a chef, author, journalist, and storyteller, shares her passion for foraging through her company, Flora & Fungi Adventures, and her recently-launched Institute for Ecosystem Based Living, which produces events with science, art, and food. Finn's extensive knowledge and experience, particularly her eight years in the Alaska fishing industry and her innovative approach to foraging, have culminated in a range of immersive workshops and camps across the West Coast. These include morel and seaweed camps in the Sierra and Western Marin, Dungeness crab catching in San Francisco, and wild food weekends in Washington and Alaska. Finn's cookbook, Forage. Gather. Feast, showcases over 100 ways to prepare foraged bounty, reflecting her commitment to integrating wild foods into everyday cuisine. Residing on a houseboat in Sausalito with her own oyster garden, Finn continues to inspire with her hands-on approach to nature's offerings. The theme that runs through them all her endeavors is how nature can teach us to become a keystone species on planet earth. (@maria_finn1)

Cancellation policy:

For each Cookbook Club gathering, we reserve the right to cancel at any time and issue a full refund. If you are unable to attend this gathering, please email [email protected] or call 415-393-0103 by Monday, August 5, 2024, to receive a full refund less any non-refundable ticketing fees which may be applicable. All fees must be paid at the time of registration. After Monday, August 5, 2024 no refunds will be issued.