Now on Sale: Darien Cooks!

A Community Fund of Darien/Darien YMCA Cookbook Partnership

 In the early months of the pandemic, The Community Fund of Darien and the Darien YMCA came together to discuss a community-building project and realized that many residents were spending a great deal of time at home with family, cooking, and having meals together.  This was the inspiration for the Darien Cooks! Community Cookbook, a treasury of recipes to feed the soul, local families, and our community.

After receiving more than 175 recipes from the community, Darien Cooks! is now available for purchase in-store at Palmer’s Market, Darien YMCA, Darien Toy Box and SipStirs or on the TCF website www.communityfunddarien.org for $60 per copy while supplies last.  All proceeds will support TCF and YMCA community programs.  This cookbook was made possible with the support of Title Sponsors Palmer’s Market and The Pinnacle Group by Compass, and Performance Optimal Health.

The 200-page collection features custom cover artwork by Darien's resident artist Diane Weeks.  Graphic designer Mireille Champsaur and photographers Diane Farrell, Jim Farrell and Penny Vanovitch, from the Darien Arts Center Archives, also contributed to the cookbook’s look.  Darien Cooks! is organized into six sections: Appetizers, Soups and Salads, Main Dishes, Side Dishes, Desserts and Breakfast/Brunch, and includes delicious family favorites such as “Smash Burger,” “Hello, Lampchop!,” “Gorgonzola Potato Chips,” “Ocean Trout Rillettes,” “Choco-Pistachio Meringues,” “Tuscan Cheesecake” and “Bacon’d Up Broccoli.”  Local eateries provided customer favorites, including Darien Butcher Shop’s BBQ St. Louis Ribs and Rory’s New England Clam Chowder.

"As a family-owned business celebrating our 100th year of serving the community, we are proud to sponsor the Darien Cooks! cookbook and support two other local organizations that do so much for our neighbors, The Community Fund of Darien and the Darien YMCA,” noted Cindy Palmer Dean, Creative Director of title sponsor Palmer’s Market.  “Palmer's Market has been offering Darien residents the freshest produce, meats, seafood and other groceries for five generations, so we couldn't miss the opportunity to be a part of a project that celebrates food and our town!"

“Everyone has their favorite family recipe and what better way to build and strengthen our community than sharing our love of food,” added Jennifer Gardner, Chief Executive Officer of the Darien YMCA.  “Through this cookbook and partnership with The Community Fund we’ll not only share our timeless family treasures, but we’ll also support our families, friends and neighbors.”

“Sharing a recipe, like sharing a meal, is a gift from the heart,” said Janet King, Executive Director of The Community Fund of Darien. “We saw the cookbook as a means to capture this moment in time as well as to celebrate this special town. We hope this project brings people together over a common bond of a love for food, and a home cooked meal while supporting our neighbors.” 

Darien Cooks! Makes a wonderful gift and is sure to become a go-to source for delicious meals and a precious keepsake for years to come.  The Community Fund of Darien and the Darien YMCA hopes that through this initiative to support local community projects, residents will enjoy paging through their neighbors’ recipes to create newfound favorites for their own families.