New Albany Cooking with Friends
News Release

March 2, 2006                                                                                                         For Immediate Release
                                                           
Contact: Mia Johansson- Strench
Marketing/Media Relations Chair, Co-Chair

Email: Mia@palladiahouse.com

Additional contacts:
Marilu Faber, Co-Chair   info@nacookingfriends.com
Diane Forrest LaHowchic, Co-Chair   info@nacookingfriends.com

New Albany Cooking with Friends is publishing a community cookbook entitled “A Signature Collection”. The book will celebrate the wonderful community of New Albany while raising funds for worthy causes.

New Albany Cooking with Friends is a nonprofit cooking club founded in 2001 in an effort to connect women in New Albany. Eight women, many of whom had recently arrived from different parts of the country and the world, attended the inaugural session.  The group has since grown to include 36 active members and 15 members at large.  The women are very passionate about cooking and enjoy exploring the culinary arts, learning cooking techniques, and sharing family recipes while having a great time together.  Members meet monthly to explore new and traditional menus and have organized over 52 cooking events featuring cuisines from around the world and various dining/party themes. A typical session is led by two members who develop a theme, assign recipes, and supervise the execution of the recipes according to schedule.  After working in the kitchen, the group sits down to a beautifully presented luncheon, and critiques the recipes.

New Albany Cooking with Friends is publishing a cookbook entitled A Signature Collection in celebration of its fifth year anniversary. Currently, members are busy editing and testing recipes in order to select the best compilation from the club’s archives.

 “We are proud to have The New Albany Company as our Premier Partner in this special project and very excited that A Signature Collection will be included in the New Albany Signature Series  2007 season offerings.” said Marilu Faber, New Albany Cooking with Friends Founder and Co-Chair.  “This superior quality cookbook will showcase an exceptional array of treasured recipes from the Cooking with Friends archives as well as stunning full-color photographs of our beautiful community” she continued.  

“The book will also feature historical commentaries and write-ups that reflect the values of New Albany and the great sense of community that exists here”, said Diane Forrest LaHowchic, New Albany Cooking with Friends Co-Chair. “This book is a celebration of New Albany and the diverse group of women who make up New Albany Cooking with Friends; it will be a must-have in every home”.

New Albany Cooking with Friends feels strongly about giving back to the community and especially to women’s and children’s causes. Proceeds from sales and sponsorships will benefit the Mid-Ohio Food Bank as well as local organizations including New Albany Safety Town and Adventure Playground, and New Albany Special Connections. The group is launching a marketing campaign to raise funds towards the project “We invite everyone to join our efforts and support this venture”, said Co-Chair and Marketing/Media Relations Chair Mia Johansson-Strench. “Know that your support will provide meals for the hungry, safety lessons that will last a lifetime for the youngest members of our community, and programs for children with special needs”.

A Signature Collection will be launched in 2007 with an initial printing of 5,000 copies. The book launching promises to be a spectacular event, celebrating the joys of cooking and the wonderful community of New Albany.

For further information please contact: Cooking with Friends at (614)775-9114 or visit www.nacookingwithfriends.com