Welcome to Cook & Tell, a foodletter about cooking, family and life on a small Maine island.
Hello! I’m Amie, a food and travel writer, who grew up and learned to cook on that Maine island.
Almost half a century ago, Cook & Tell began as a weekly column my mom, Karyl Bannister, wrote for our local newspaper. A few years later, she launched a monthly cooking newsletter by the same name which she wrote, illustrated and published, working her way into the hearts and kitchens of thousands of home, hobby and professional cooks all over the world. Eventually, she landed a book deal and Houghton Mifflin published her cookbook, “Cook & Tell: No-Fuss Recipes & Gourmet Surprises,” in 2001.
Would you believe she did this for nearly 40 years, all without the internet?
Although she passed away during the pandemic, I keep her spirit alive with this online reboot of Cook & Tell, where her analog world of paper and postage stamps meets my digital gig life. Here, where our stories and words intersect, you’ll find vintage recipes and stories, with occasional Field Notes and new recipe favorites from me.
What you’ll get:
Small Bites: stories from our tiny Maine kitchen, complete with Karyl’s whimsical illustrations
Printable Recipes & Vintage Issues: from the Cook & Tell archives
Field Notes: my own food and travel adventures along with recipes, blending southwestern style with traditional New England roots
Meals Across the Miles: community chats and reader recipe swaps
Is it free?
Yes! These bi-monthly stories and recipes are FREE to all readers—all in a space without ads, paywalls, algorithms or annoying pop-ups.
To give you the flavor of this foodletter, check out some of our readers’ favorite issues:
Here’s a little more about me. Send me an email anytime!
Your Pantry Pal,
Amie McGraham
