Now Serving is a cozy cookbook haven in Chinatown, where you can peruse unique titles, stylish kitchen gear, and join lively food events.
"Actor, chef, and author Matty Matheson has a new book out. After shooting three seasons of FX’s hit show The Bear, he’ll tour to promote Matty Matheson: Soups, Salads, Sandwiches: A Cookbook Matheson. On November 21, the show’s culinary producer and co-executive producer, Courtney Storer, will join Matheson to chat at Now Serving in Chinatown." - Mona Holmes
"GO: to the city’s best cookbook shop, curated by former Cut chef Ken Concepcion and his wife and make-up artist Michelle Mungcal. Now Serving also happens to stock the coolest ceramics (graphic Mt. Washington Pottery bowls, otherworldly Minh Singer dishes), indie food magazines, and actually useful cooking tools (J.B. Prince tweezers!). BUY: all the cookbooks you could ever want, whether it’s a new release from a buzzy chef or an rare, out-of-print classic. Now Serving probably has it. THE VIBE IS: homey. Basket-like lamps loom over tables filled with the most stylish kitchen gear, while a big fig leaf tree flanks tall shelves with indie food magazines and cookbooks you’ll actually want to cook from. When visiting chefs and cookbook authors host cookbook parties or panels at the shop, it feels like one big house party. (Check the site for upcoming events.) PRACTICAL STUFF: Open Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Closed on Monday and Tuesday. —Elyse Inamine" - Condé Nast
"Bay area bakery pop-up, Estepan, will be at Now Serving on Saturday, April 27. Put in a pre-order for bread boxes with conchas and pretzels, or an individual order of shokupan. For sweets, malted milk chocolate chip cookies and misugaru banana bread are both available. Pre-orders are available online and close on April 26 at 5 p.m." - Rebecca Roland
"‘Le Corbuffet: Edible Art and Design Classics,’ $40 What could be more fitting for your artsy friend (bonus points if they attended the University of Michigan or do something like “graphic design”) than Esther Choi’s one-of-a-kind cookbook, where home cooking meets high-brow art? Probably nothing. We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists." - Team Infatuation
"‘Le Corbuffet: Edible Art and Design Classics,’ $40 What could be more fitting for your artsy friend (bonus points if they attended the University of Michigan or do something like “graphic design”) than Esther Choi’s one-of-a-kind cookbook, where home cooking meets high-brow art? Probably nothing." - kat hong