Brett Jocelyn Epstein '01 wants more than recipes: she wants the stories that go with them. Epstein, a freelance writer and editor who has published in Gourmet, among other outlets, hopes to capture the Bryn Mawr community's culinary and literary talents in a narrative cookbook that she and a group of alumnae plan to publish as a fundraiser for the College. She has agreed to edit the text. Right now, that means collecting tales of the table from any Mawrter who's ready to let her inner M.F.K. Fisher shine through.

"We're looking for favorite recipes and any sort of story associated with them," Epstein says. "The story doesn't have to be connected to Bryn Mawr, but if it is — if you served the dish at a reunion of your long-lost classmates, or ate it at dinner at a professor's house — that's a bonus."

The idea grew out of a conversation on the Bryn Mawr alumnae/i list-serv, Epstein says. "People often ask for recipe ideas. At one point, someone mentioned the fact that there was once a Bryn Mawr cookbook, the proceeds of which benefited the College." According to Nancy Kirk '59, who owns a copy of the previous book, it was published in 1985 as part of the celebration of the College's centennial and edited by Nancy Marcus Land.

"Since the old book is apparently out of print," says Epstein, "we thought that a new one was in order. A lot of list-serv subscribers like to cook, and there are several food writers and people who teach cooking classes among us. Six people have volunteered to test recipes, and several have volunteered to help with copyediting."

"I'm excited about this project," Epstein says. "Like most recent graduates, I don't have a lot of money to donate to the school, so I'm glad to have a way to give some of my time and expertise that will, I hope, ultimately benefit the College financially."

So far, Epstein has received about 35 recipes. To contribute a recipe or to learn more about the project, e-mail Epstein at brett.epstein@alumnae.brynmawr.edu.

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