The Cookbook Co. Cooks satisfies your hunger for all things culinary. It's a destination to purchase specialty ingredients, quality cookware, and chef-inspired cookbooks. It's also your source for corporate and gift baskets for the foodie, chef or baker in your life; and let's not forget about their cooking classes, culinary vacation escapes, and catering.

"Back in 1984, we were selling cookbooks, so the name [The Cookbook Co.] seemed like a natural fit, says owner Gail Norton about the start and evolution of the company. "When we moved into our current space, we were dreaming up new and unusual names, but a good friend suggested adding the word 'cooks' on the end to embrace the expanded aspects of the business — selling specialty cookware and ingredients alongside the cookbooks, as well as the cooking school and catering company. It fit and was perfect!"

"We understand and are connected to the food scene in Calgary, as well as the food trends evolving around the world. Everybody who works here is passionate about cooking. We take pride in the fact that we sell quality ingredients, and we know how to use them," she continues. "We believe in the products we sell, and we believe in the people and producers behind them."

Calgary is a Perfect Home For Food Enthusiasts

For Norton and her team, Calgary is the perfect place to be for food enthusiasts — and the world is taking notice of the city's culinary landscape. Look no further for evidence of this than Netflix, where local Chef Darren MacLean was one of 24 chefs chosen from around the world to compete on The Final Table.

"We love the food scene. It is dynamic and there is a lot of camaraderie. All of the local food businesses contribute to Calgary's dynamic food and home-cooking scene," confirms Norton.

Cooking Lessons By The Cookbook Co. Cooks

To facilitate the ever-growing foodscape in Calgary, The Cookbook Co. Cooks offers a wide range of products and services. Norton explains, "We are a resource for people who want to cook — whether they are beginners, seasoned home cooks, or professional chefs. We are a go-to, fun place for interesting products and ingredients, as well as fun experiences in the kitchen. We offer wonderful experiences and provide great value for our customers and guests. Our private classes and corporate team building events are second-to-none, and our public classes examine diverse techniques, flavours and types of cuisine."

Their classes are very popular. "We have so many!" Norton exclaims. "A Night Out: Couples Classes take place every Friday and Saturday evening, and are a great way to spend a date night where you work on a recipe with some cooing instruction from one of our in-house chefs, then gather together to enjoy the meal that everybody has made. Other popular cooking classes include Thai Classics with Ching Li, as well as Girls' Night Out: Hors D'Oeuvres and Cocktails with Chef Chris Halpin, and Handmade Pasta with Chef Melissa Kennedy."

Where Does the Company Draw Inspiration From?

The Cookbook Co. Cooks team find inspiration in the people that live, work, play and cook in Calgary, and they are happy to support the community and help it grow.

"We donate generously to charitable and non-profit organizations for their fundraising. We also make space on a monthly basis for organizations like Soup Sisters and Wellspring to host events in our cooking school," says Norton.

The Cookbook Co. Cooks Supports Local Business

One of the ways The Cookbook Co. Cooks supports local businesses is through its Yum Box program.

"The Yum Box is a weekly collection of fresh ingredients from local producers, curated by us. Every Friday between May and October our customers can pick up a box of goodies that comes with a recipe that will include many of the featured ingredients. Make sure to place your order a week in advance!"

The Future of Cookbook Co. Cooks

What can their patrons expect in the future? After 35 years in business, more of the same great service, classes and outstanding products they have come to love. Customers can also expect a few parties.

"We are celebrating 35 years in business this October — a tremendous milestone for an independent business," concludes Norton. "We are great at throwing parties, so Calgarians who love good food and wine will want to save the date."