PRAISE
““I love the way Kendra has celebrated the farmers and the beautiful organic food they grow for us. She connects their work to the kitchen and to our tastebuds in a pure and simple way—plus the photos are gorgeous.”
—Alice Waters
Chez Panisse & The Edible Schoolyard Project”
"I'm writing to say congratulations on the Alice Waters connection. I've known about her since the 70's and can feel the thrill of knowing someone so profound has found your work so important. This is truly fabulous. I'm proud of you—a young woman making an impact on the world! "
—Consuelo M. (San Luis Obispo, CA)
"Well done, Kendra. You have worked so tirelessly and passionately on this project. You deserve all the success."
—Shanny C. (Cambria, CA)
"I bought your cookbook and had you sign it for my foodie friend, Nina. I am now on a quest to have all the contributors sign it! Although a couple of the chefs have already left the area, the owners have graciously agreed to sign the book instead. What a wonderful bunch of people that you have collected in your cookbook. I am having such a great time meeting all of them. No kidding, I am having a ball. And they are also thrilled to come out of the kitchen or out of the fields to come sign the book. They are kind of confused at first, but then they see the book and they're like ahh, OK. And then we chitchat for a little bit and end up as friends. This has been a delight for me to meet all this wonderful local food talent. I've been a fan from afar and now I get to shake the hand of the farmers and the chefs that makes the best food around. And all because I bought your cookbook for my friend! Joy all around."
—Christine R. (San Luis Obispo, CA)
"CONGRATULATIONS on a epic Kickstarter campaign and on the official launch of your SLO Farmers' Market Cookbook! You have created something wonderful, meaningful, and lasting—and you have done it with grace, boundless energy, and your signature smile :) We hope you feel as proud of yourself as the community that you've touched feels of you! Look forward to getting our copy and enjoying it for years to come."
—Lindsey H. (San Luis Obispo, CA)
"I received my copy of your beautiful cookbook and brought it home for my wife to look at and enjoy as well. I wanted to let you know that we think it is gorgeous. The photos are incredible. The stories are perfect. The table of contents is so creative. We love that its organized by season. We can't wait to try the recipes. I am so impressed that you got such a massive project done in such a short amount of time and how wonderful the final product is. Even the paper and the jacket are so nice. You have created a fantastic book! I will be sharing with friends and family. Thank you for showcasing the Central Coast so well and including the Cal Poly Organic Farm. Can't wait to see what you do next!"
—David H. (San Luis Obispo, CA)
"I just wanted to tell you that I LOVE your cookbook—just got it for Christmas and read it cover to cover the next day. I also drooled over every page...oops! I love the heart and personal voice that is threaded throughout the book. And obviously the photos are just exquisite. Phenomenal job all around! Thank you for such a beautiful and heartfelt project—I can't wait to enjoy it from my kitchen. I hope your second order is equally as successful!"
—Jess M. (San Diego, CA)
"I can't open it fast enough. It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I can't believe it. It's just so perfect and I'm holding it on my lap like it's a puppy."
—Joanna G. (Seattle, WA)
"Congratulations to you and your well deserved recognition at such a young age. Your book is beautifully illustrated with amazing photos. I look forward to trying some of your recipes very soon!"
—Val V. (San Luis Obispo, CA)
"just wanted to let you know I ordered 2 of your beautiful cookbooks.
I was so impressed with your work and wanted to commend you on your creativity."
—Alyson K. (Atascadero, CA)
"Just got mine in the mail, and my mouth's watering from the photos. Looking forward to trying out some of the recipes, even though I don't have access to SLO farmers' markets anymore. Beautiful book!"
—Austin W. (Seattle, WA)
"My birthday is in a few days. If you don't know what to buy me, buy me this amazing book created by an amazing person named Kendra Aronson. ACTUALLY buy me like 12 of them, then send me one and pass out the other 11."
—Jensen L. (San Luis Obispo, CA)
"I backed this [Kickstarter campaign] because I am a Cal Poly alum and believe there is just something magical about the farmers' market experience in SLO. It's something that I try to describe, but I know that only fellow alums can understand. I truly love that you have put this cookbook together! I think of it in the sense that I can have my 'happy place' in my kitchen every day!
I can only imagine the amount of work this has been for you. I commend you for following your passion, living your dream, and sharing it with those of us who are not lucky enough to live in the amazing SLO community any longer!
Although I find my fair share of culinary adventures through Pinterest, google searches, blogs, and so on, I always go back to my cookbooks. There's just something special about flipping pages, finding something that sounds good, making it, loving it, and having a place to go back and discover it again and again."
—Meaghan B. (Newport Beach, CA)
"I read the farmer and restauranteur bios—these are wonderful accounts of ordinary people doing extraordinary work. With your writing and photography, you've captured your amazing community of people growing and creating wonderful food. Love the photos of these people! And their dogs and cows and sheep. This was obviously a labor of love for you and must've taken an enormous amount of time and energy. But look at the result—a rich and colorful testimonial to this community you obviously love. Congrats and thanks!"
—David O. (Walnut Creek, CA)
"I WAS TELLING my wife how proud i am to be your friend; and that your excitement and enthusiasm is one of the greatest things in life."
—Josh A. (Morro Bay, CA)
"I'm so happy for you. I ordered the cookbook and tote because you seem so passionate about your project. Another reason is that my daughter graduated from Cal Poly in 2000 with a major in Food Science. I've come to LOVE SLO. Wish I could live there, but I live on the SF peninsula. Looking forward to the cookbook to give to her for her birthday this month!!"
—Karen R. (San Carlos, CA)
"Congrats on the book coming out! Totally radical. I've already have heard people talking about how amazing it turned out. You should be very proud of yourself!"
—Natasha P. (San Luis Obispo, CA)
"BEST COOKBOOK EVER!!!"
—Sara K. (San Luis Obispo, CA)
"Got mine today...
even more beautiful than
i had imagined!"
—Alexis N. (Paso Robles, CA)
"BEAUTIFUL!!!!
BEST MAIL OF 2015!"
—Sarah D. (San Francisco, CA)
"Looking forward to getting a copy of your GORGEOUS cookbook soon! It looks AMAZING!!! I'm in awe of your talent and determination. [Next day.] Your cookbook is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!! So aesthetically pleasing to the eye! You are incredibly talented my friend!!!! It's so wonderful I just ordered another copy!"
—Teal G. (Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA)
"Your book looks SO fantastic!!!! Huge congratulations! You did an amazing job!!!!!!!! You deserve all the celebration ever! It came today and it looks fantastic and all the recipes are exactly the kind of food I love!"
—Julia K. (Los Angeles, CA)
"#nofilter needed for this pure gold accomplishment. @kendraaronson, it is so amazing to hold your work in my hands. I am so proud of you for the #slofarmersmarketcookbook."
—Alison V. (Alameda, CA)
"a whole lot of deliciousness just landed at my doorstep @kendraaronson! Can't wait to savor what's inside. Get ready mouth. #slofarmersmarketcookbook"
—Kathy W. (Mill Valley, WA)
"I had the joy of cruising into my favorite store Friday afternoon, Paso Robles General Store, and the cover of your cookbook caught my eye. I thumbed through it, page after page, loving each recipe and feature on our many awesome local growers, chefs and purveyors. Bravo, what an absolutely exciting accomplishment! Christmas presents, check!"
—Molly S. (Paso Robles, CA)
"Got my cookbook!! LOOOOOOOVE!!! I'm proud of you!!!!! Can't wait to get cookin'. It's such an accomplishment, you are so ridiculously talented!"
—Madison D. (San Francisco, CA)
"I ordered two of these as gifts, but now that I see them in person, I definitely have to order one for myself. Kendra Aronson, this is a beautiful cookbook. Cal Poly Alumn, go order yourself a book. It is the perfect blend of class and nostalgia."
—Katie L. (Moorpark, CA)
"Well hot damn. If this isn't the nicest looking cookbook I've ever seen!"
—Adam S. (San Luis Obispo, CA)
"Got my cookbook and tote today—LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! You did a fantastic job—wonderful! This is a Christmas gift for my daughter—a Cal Poly grad, currently living/working in Manhattan, and sometimes missing California's glorious Central Coast and the SLO life. I know seeing these great photos of and recipes from her favorite spots (looking at you Sally Loos!) will rekindle great memories."
—Michelle P. (Cupertino, CA)
"Damn! That's a good looking book :) Congratulations on achieving so much success so quickly. Though, it's
no surprise!"
—Josh G. (San Luis Obispo, CA)
"This morning I opened my front door to go out and get the paper and there I found a treasure. I was delighted to see the package with your Farmers' Market Cookbooks at my doorstep. Thank you so much for this beautiful cookbook. Actually it is more than a cookbook. I have had a brief look at it this morning and I can hardly wait to dig into it."
—Joan C. (San Luis Obispo, CA)
"Amazing work, Kendra! We are so stoked for you and what this has contributed to our community. Thanks for all your hard work and dedication!!"
—Christina G. (Pismo Beach, CA)
"Kendra—just received my cookbooks. They are so stunning I'm at a loss for words. You killed it!!!! Thank you for including me in this amazing [kickstarter] project."
—Kathy N. (Shell Beach, CA)
"I got the books and have already given the two copies to very excited recipients. Finding the right gift for a beloved patron is always a challenge. It turned out to be everything we could have wanted. Thank you for your lovely idea and outstanding execution of it."
—Carol N. (San Luis Obispo, CA)
"The pictures are beautiful. I can't wait to try the recipes. It made me want to move to SLO. I think you captured the feel of the community well."
—Barbara C. (Moreno Valley, CA)
"THANK YOU SO MUCH KENDRA. THE BOOKS ARRIVED IN THE POST TO IRELAND.
THEY ARE WONDERFULLY EDITED AND THE RECIPES AND PHOTOGRAPHS ARE FANTASTIC."
—Colum M. (Ireland!)
"I got the cookbooks for my parents and my brother for Christmas (and am about to order one for my aunt and myself!) because everyone in my family went to Cal Poly (both of my parents, my brother, myself, and now my two cousins), and this cookbook is such a great way to remember our time in SLO and all the amazing restaurants and people that make up the community there. I know they are going to love flipping through and seeing meals that we have shared together, and places that we love to go to, and faces that we recognize!"
—Dayton P. (San Francisco, CA)
"Very thrilled for you dear heart. What a marvelous accomplishment! You earned every accolade. Now go enjoy this beautiful season with your family and friends serving up the bounty of goodies and tasty delights from the cookbook."
—P.K. (Arroyo Grande, CA)
"I was one of the contributors to your Kickstarter campaign, and wow, did we get a deal! It's a beautiful cookbook and we love the connections between the cooks, the produce, the recipes and the stories---that are exuding love for you, your passion, and the love of what they do. It's pretty amazing, actually. I'm so happy for your success and encourage you to do more. It's an amazing tomb of work you've produced. And the love and passion is palatable. We'll support you however we can with our limited resources, but we're enjoying your hard work vicariously and lovingly."
—Susan S. (Paso Robles, CA)
"It's brilliant! I just finished reading it. I've marked 15 pages with a "Yum!" post-it for my Squeeze to cook. Yep, I call my guy Squeeze too:) we tried a recipe. It was divine. I am thrilled for this delicious endeavor of yours!"
—Jennifer A. (San Luis Obispo, CA)
"I own a heap of cookbooks (as cooking/growing food/food presentation is also a passion of mine), however, I have to say your creation is so beautifully photographed, organized and personal, that it's my ALL time favorite. I am a very visual and methodical person and the book appeals on SO many levels.
As the holidays were hectic (but fun), I waited until I could sit down with a cup of coffee and enjoy The SLO Farmers' Market Cookbook cover-to-cover. Wow...I feel so blessed to have visited the SLO farmers' market numerous times, eaten at most of the restaurants featured, cooked with the bounty of your region and now own your 'vision' of the perfect showcase of the SLO region. You are very talented...but I guess you know that!"
—Elena B.
"AMAZING COMPILATION and combination of recipes, seasons, photos, and support to your local farmers + restaurants! I absolutely love your work!"
—Patty (Rancho Bernardo, CA)
Got something sweet to say?
Tag me on Instagram (@kendraaronson) with the hashtag #slofarmersmarketcookbook
or drop me a line at kendraaronsoncreativestudio@gmail.com, thanks so much for the kind words! :)