Cookbook Club: In Bibi's Kitchen
July 12, 2026 5:00 pm
Cookbook Club lands at Local Economy on Sunday, July 12
Local Economy in Oakland is hosting the third round of its Cookbook Club, and this one has a warm, communal feel written all over it. From 5 to 8 pm, neighbors will gather around food from In Bibi’s Kitchen, a cookbook filled with recipes and stories from grandmothers across eight African countries along the Indian Ocean.
The book comes from Somali chef Hawa Hassan and food writer Julia Turshen, with dishes and voices from South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Comoros, Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, and Eritrea. Instead of sitting and watching, guests take part. People choose a recipe or two ahead of time, cook at home, then bring the dish to share potluck style.
That makes the room the real show. The performers are the home cooks, the stories behind the recipes, and the long table energy that happens when people show up with something they made. Expect a relaxed crowd, plenty of conversation, and the kind of food event where asking, “What did you bring?” is the easiest way to meet someone.
This gathering is part of a partnership with Thu Doan of East Bay Booksellers, which gives it a nice local bookish thread too. If you like cookbooks, family recipes, or meals that come with context, this is a sweet way to spend a Sunday evening in Oakland.
Cost is free for members and $10 for the public.
When: Sunday, July 12, 2026, 5 to 8 pm
Where: Local Economy, Oakland, California
Event info: View the listing
Iit’s time for round 3 of Cookbook Club, a partnership with East Bay Booksellers’ Thu Doan.
This time, we’ll be cooking In Bibi’s Kitchen: The Recipes and Stories of Grandmothers from the Eight African Countries that Touch the Indian Ocean. Somali chef Hawa Hassan and food writer Julia Turshen present 75 recipes and stories gathered from bibis (or grandmothers) from eight African nations: South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Comoros, Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, and Eritrea.
We’ll create a sign-up sheet for participants to take on a recipe or two from the book, then gather for a potluck to share what we’ve all made.
Vibes: Delicious, participatory, delightful
Cost: Free for members, $10 for the public