About this blog

Who are you? And why the blog?
I'm a part-time online bookseller who comes across these wonderful little cookbooks every weekend at the used book sales where I find my inventory. After poking through some of them, I realized that there are some incredible gems in these books -- great ideas, tested for generations, made with love. There are also some regional dishes that I found cool and intriguing. And then there are also some incredibly scary, "what the hell where they thinking?" dishes that are worth sharing. You'll find all of that and more here.

Why "Local Flavor"?
When I was kicking around the idea of a blog devoted to community cookbooks and other obscure regional recipe books, I wanted the title to capture ideas like "neighborhood" and "sharing" as well as, well, food and eating. Besides, I worried that my original title -- "Cook This" -- was a little too edgy.

Have you tried to make any of these recipes?
As of this writing, no. I would like to try a few sometime. Too busy working, selling books and blogging. But I do make a mean chili and a great lasagna.

How do you pick a recipe to post?
More often than not, it has to be something unusual or something I've never heard of. (The two are not necessarily synonymous.) I might post something that I think is a particularly innovative or amazingly simple version of something I like or have always wanted to make.

How many of the cookbooks you read are you selling?
I'd say at least 70 percent of them -- probably more -- will eventually be sold, either individually or in groups (or "lots") on eBay.