Nestled on W. 10th Street in the Village, is a small vintage cookbook shop run by Bonnie Slotnick and her neighbor’s friendly dog Rawlins.
Stacked on shelves from floor to ceiling are thousands of old cookbooks on every topic imaginable: Regional American, historical periods, Asian, Jewish, Caribbean, sauces, bread making, etiquette, celebrity chefs, state specific, legends like Julia Child and James Beard, and even a small Wartime cooking shelf.
Vintage cookware and household items are also for sale. I nearly bought the 1960s cake decorating kit for my sister but opted for a reprinted copy of “Housekeeping in Old Virginia” instead. Bonnie had the 19th century original, but at $400, it was a tad out of my price range.
Hanging on a wall is a framed letter and photograph the acclaimed food writer M.F.K. Fisher wrote to Bonnie in 1980.
It’s best to arrive when you have time to browse and ask questions because Bonnie is chock full of stories and information that she is more than happy to share. I guarantee that you will undoubtedly lose track of time in the shop because it is a metaphorical Candy Land for the home cook.
Handle the 19th century books with care
While Bonnie spoke to a customer from Indiana on the phone, I leafed through “The Rural Kentucky Cookbook” as well as Gertrude Kirby’s copy of the “Saint Alban’s Cookbook” published in 1957 by St. Alban’s parish in Washington, DC. I’m not sure who Ms. Kirby is, but the cookbook she owned has found a happy home.
Bonnie looks forward to coming into work everyday. As a former cookbook publisher for 16 years, Bonnie has a staggering knowledge about cookbooks. Five years ago, she finally put labels up on the shelves. Before that, you could say browsing took a little longer.
For the typical question, “where can I find a cookbook on ____," the answer lies in Bonnie’s cataloging system which mostly resides in her head. She must have a near photographic memory because she sells and replaces books on a regular basis.
When looking to give a book as a gift, Bonnie will ask you for details on the gift recipient - their age, hometown, interests, personality etc. Bonnie used this technique to find the perfect gift for a 30 something woman in Connecticut who loves food but doesn’t have the time to cook. Try doing that in Barnes & Nobles!
Rawlins often greets customers
Usual store hours are 1-7pm, six days a week. The day it closes varies, so call ahead to make sure Bonnie will be there.
163 West 10th Street
New York, NY 10014-3116
(212) 989-8962
Bonnie Slotnick's website can be found here.
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