I made a last-minute decision to run over to Left Bank Books last evening in time for the start of a reading by Joy Wilson, above, the author of "Joy the Baker Cookbook." Frankly, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about since this young woman's blog has been named one of the "Top 50 Food Blogs" by the London Times, and named "Best Baking Blog" by foodbuzz. By the time I staked my standing-room only spot, I felt the energy and high anticipation coming from the 100-plus young women—and a few men—as we waited for Joy to make her appearance.
Among those devotees in the crowd were a mother and daughter who had made a two-hour trip for the event, and fans eager to learn how to start a blog, how to write a cookbook, etc., etc. Many of them spoke with identical inflection and hand gestures, which I found really amusing. Joy even said to one questioner, "you sound just like me!" Another asked why she chose St. Louis for her book tour, as if it were the last place on earth to visit. Joy, who lives in LA, replied enthusiastically that her best friend lived down the street in an "amazing three-story house," and they had enjoyed a delicious dinner the night before at Duff's…"gosh I LOVE St. Louis," she said.
I did a double-take when, in response to a question, Joy said she didn't usually test her recipes, "unless someone emails that they have a problem with one—which rarely happens." She explained that her father and an aunt (who's blind) loved to bake and she learned a lot from them; she also worked in a bakery when she was younger. Consequently, she has her formulas down pat. The reason I mention this is that the "no testing" statement blew me away. When I was the food editor of Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion I tested my recipes until I couldn't stand to look at another dish of whatever we were cooking up. Then my sister Debbie tested them again—just to be sure the average cook could get the recipes to work. Obviously, Joy is really talented.
The recipes in Joy the Baker Cookbook, $19.99, which include more than just sweet things, looked easy and quite good. As of this afternoon there are about 20 copies left at Left Bank Books, 399 N. Euclid.