The Art of Gathering

Building Community through Food with Vancouver Cookbook Club

I’ve always had a soft spot for long table meals. When Cynthia and I got married two years ago, one of our non-negotiables was to have a long table setup for our reception. And so we did—two beautiful, rustic tables at The Loft in Yaletown, surrounded by friends and family. It was one of the most special nights of our lives.

There’s something about a long table that evokes a sense of unity, belonging, and community. I especially love the simple, thoughtful act of passing food around the table: it shows care, generosity, and a willingness to share with those around you.

This is exactly what we hope people feel when they attend Vancouver Cookbook Club. And for our June event, that spirit of gathering came alive in the most beautiful way.

For this month’s Vancouver Cookbook Club, we reached out to Chef David Robertson of Dirty Apron to ask if we could host our event in his stunning dining room and pair it with his cookbook, Gather. True to its name, Gather was the perfect choice: its focus on bringing people together through good food aligned seamlessly with our vision. We were so grateful when Chef David said yes, and from there, we began planning a truly memorable gathering.

As this was our sixth cookbook club of the year, we wanted to make it extra special. Drawing inspiration from our wedding—where Cynthia designed booklets filled with poems and stories I had written—we created custom booklets, each with their handwritten name, as favours for each guest.

The first page told the story of Vancouver Cookbook Club—who we are and why we do what we do. The second page listed the names of each guest and the dish they brought from Gather. And finally, the last page featured a blank section with photo corners, ready for a printed photo from our photobooth, a keepsake from this special afternoon.

The Dirty Apron was the perfect venue, with three distinct spaces: a dining room, a kitchen for cooking classes, and a deli section. We set up the photobooth by the deli—beautiful and bright, perfect for fun group or solo shots. Having it slightly tucked away also gave our more introverted guests the space to have fun and be themselves.

There were 27 of us in total, each bringing a dish from Gather—from rich savoury curries and flaky Salmon Wellington to delicate desserts. We were blown away by how much effort everyone put in, not just in the cooking, but also in the presentation. Glenny’s Local Greens, Avocado and Feta Salad was artfully arranged in a rustic wooden bowl. Michelle’s Caramel Macchiato Cookies had everyone buzzing. And Ann shared that she looked up Michelin plating techniques for her and Jonathan’s Barbecue Short Ribs and Korean Bean Sprout Banchan!

One of my favourite parts of the afternoon was seeing everyone doing the final touches to their dishes, just like a true family-style potluck you would experience during the holidays.

We gathered around the long table in Dirty Apron’s dining room, decorated with homemade ikebana arrangements lovingly crafted by our friends. Huge thanks to Roxane and the Dirty Apron team for being so helpful, organized, and for letting us use real plates and utensils—it made everything feel just that much more intentional and elevated.

From the incredible spread to the meaningful conversations around the table, and the joy captured in the photobooth, this event truly embodied the art of gathering.

Interested in joining our Vancouver Cookbook Club? Make sure to sign up for our Interest Form!

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