Gourmet Guides began 30 years ago in a small storefront in the outskirts of San Francisco. It was the ’70s and the California culinary revolution was taking hold... Alice Waters opened Chez Panisse, “nouvelle cuisine” was coined, the Cuisinart food processor became available to the home cook, and Jean Bullock set up shop.
Back then few stores sold discounted books and none specialized in cookbooks. My mother, always a great cook, had a love of cookbooks. Without any business experience Gourmet Guides was born.
The rise of the California food scene sent chefs and home cooks rushing to the only store in the Bay Area that served their needs. Here they could find obscure cookbooks by master chefs, cookbooks on faraway cuisines, volumes on culinary history and technique. Gourmet Guides provided Bay Area chefs with a treasure of cookbooks at tremendous savings. However beyond the savings customers found a kindred spirit. My mother’s knowledge of cookbooks (and cooking) was legendary. Cookbook groupies, if there were such a thing, exchanged loves and likes of all things culinary ... as only foodies can.
Through the years Gourmet Guides has had several locations in San Francisco. From a wonderful corner store in North Beach where grateful culinary school students could stop in and pick up required reading at affordable prices -- a godsend for students — to a prime location near Ghirardelli Square.
Perhaps some of you remember the store by the Ferry Terminal or the hole in the wall in San Francisco’s Financial district where one customer — a Muni bus driver — used to dash in to check on new titles while his load of passengers waited patiently outside.
In an age where books are sold online, in storefronts, through the mail... even as e-books, it’s hard to remember a time when it was a struggle to find unusual cookbooks. Discount was not the norm. Selection was not an option. Back then there was only Gourmet Guides. And now 30 years later there is still Gourmet Guides Bargain Cookbooks.
Through the years Gourmet Guides has grown and evolved. My mother and Gourmet Guides moved out of the city. Eventually Gourmet Guides closed its storefront and focused on mail order. I joined my mother’s business a few years ago and moved the books to Seattle, leaving mom to retire from the day-to-day chores. We’ve added a website for online shopping and continue to update and upgrade our modest catalog. After 30 years we’re still a small storefront (albeit on the web) that follows the inspiration that started the business : “I hope you love cookbooks like I do”.
Thanks to all our customers who have not only made the last 30 years possible, but very enjoyable. We appreciate your business. Sarah & Jean Bullock
