In this episode of Food for Thought, we sit down with cookbook author, recipe developer, and food media maven Caroline Chambers to explore her dynamic journey through the world of food. Caroline’s story is a testament to the value of quality recipe writing and unconventional pathways to success, from the launch of her catering company, Cucina Coronado, to becoming a top food writer on Substack with her newsletter What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking. If you’re craving a story about resilience, creativity, and the ever-evolving nature of a culinary career, this one’s for you. Let’s dive in!
Caroline’s culinary story begins in sunny San Diego, where she founded Cucina Coronado, a catering company that quickly grew into a local favorite. As a military spouse, she also faced the challenges of frequent relocations, forcing her to continuously adapt both personally and professionally.
A pivotal chapter unfolded when she joined a test kitchen, where she learned the discipline of precise recipe writing, a skill that would become foundational in her career. Caroline reflects on this time as the moment she transitioned from cooking to creating recipes that anyone could follow and enjoy.
After moving to San Francisco and writing her debut cookbook, Just Married, Caroline’s work continued to evolve. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Caroline turned a moment of uncertainty into one of opportunity. She launched Quarantine Kitchen on Instagram, a video series that combined approachable recipes with an authentic look at life and cooking in lockdown. Her creative approach and candid storytelling struck a chord with viewers, quickly growing her audience and deepening her connection with her community.
The next evolution of her work came with her move to Substack, where she now runs a thriving newsletter filled with recipes, stories, and insights. Caroline opens up about the strategy behind her newsletter’s success and the personal growth that came with stepping away from traditional publishing. By shifting her approach to recipe writing so that it fostered culinary creativity in her readers, Caroline’s Substack quickly rose in popularity.
Her Substack isn’t just a digital cookbook, it’s a testament to community-driven content, honest storytelling, and the power of carving out your own culinary path. It doesn’t hurt that Caroline’s What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking newsletter served as the perfect proof-of-concept for publishers, leading to her cookbook of the same name landing on bookstore shelves!
What you’ll learn in this episode:
- 0:00:02 | Caroline’s path to publishing in food writing
- 0:13:52 | Caroline’s experience with freelance recipe writing
- 0:18:30 | Caroline’s perspectives on cooking, motherhood, and social media
- 0:25:26 | Caroline’s path to self-Publishing success
- 0:38:46 | Caroline’s book success beyond NYT Bestseller
- 0:51:06 | Caroline’s transition from podcast to newsletter
- 0:55:27 | Caroline’s book launch and community engagement
Whether you’re an aspiring cookbook author, a home cook looking for inspiration, or someone navigating your own creative pivot, Caroline’s story offers valuable takeaways about resilience, adaptability, and the beauty of forging your own way.
Episode Resources:
Website: https://wellersmithdesign.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellersmithdesign/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leannawellersmith/
If you are curious about self-publishing and want to learn more about how we can help, check out our Self-Publishing Services.
Weller Smith Design is a Full-Service Boutique Design Agency that provides publishing, self-publishing, branding, web design, and strategy services. We pride ourselves in being the Boutique Agency of choice for Thought Leaders like you.
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