Cooks & Books Co. opened mid-August and has since served as a hub for the community through cooking classes and club gatherings.
MERIDIAN, Idaho — This story originally appeared in the Idaho Press.
A new hole-in-the-wall shop in Meridian is the result of one home economics teacher’s passion project that has recently come to fruition.
Cooks & Books Co. is split down the middle — literally — with a wall separating the shop’s bookshelves and knickknacks from the kitchen in the back. The shop opened mid-August and has since served as a hub for the community through cooking classes and club gatherings.
On Wednesday, owner Alicia Mattera led a session for a women’s hiking group, the Blister Sisters. Attendees exchanged books in a book swap before getting into the kitchen, where Mattera helped them bake pumpkin granola cookies.
“As soon as I got here (to Idaho) five years ago, I said, ‘I want to open a business here,’” she said.
Mattera has a colorful list of past ventures from her time living in Las Vegas and Portland. She previously owned a hair salon which she built from the ground up and ran for over a decade.
She also worked as a doula, coaching mothers through their births. Most recently, Mattera taught home economics at Cardinal Academy, a Boise school for pregnant teens and teen mothers.
“I know that a lot of people don’t understand that, but that’s just my norm,” she said. “I get bored really easily, so I like change. I like to switch things up.”
Whether it be training new hairdressers or preparing expectant moms, the one commonality Mattera can point to is her interest in teaching.
“That part brings me joy, because I am a lifelong learner myself, so I love to learn, and then I like to share what I learned,” Mattera said.
In the two months since its opening, Cooks & Books has hosted a variety of classes for different demographics, from children to retirees. Classes tend to be small, with under a dozen participants.
The store’s selection of books are personally curated by Mattera, including cookbooks and fiction books with cooking themes.
Mattera always knew she wanted to have a book-related business, but wasn’t certain on an exact concept.
“I wanted some place to go with my friends, or even my husband, where I could do something without it involving being in a bar,” Mattera said. “So that’s another reason why this has been rolling around in my head for a few years.”
Lauren Bettger, a part-time instructor at the store, met Mattera during its planning stage.
Bettger said that there aren’t many options for cooking classes in the Treasure Valley, so when she heard about the Cooks & Books concept, she was excited. Bettger said it reminded her of a store in Seattle where she used to live.
“I was like, ‘Oh, I would love to own one of those places,’” she said. “But even better, I found Alicia.”
Bettger now teaches a cookbook class where she introduces kids to different cuisines from across the world.
Looking around the store, its design goes against the grain of a typical moody library. Instead, the space is well lit and colorful.
“She likes things kind of funky, she loves her leopard print, you know?” Bettger said about Mattera. “I think that’s just a fun part of her personality.”
When they met, Bettger said she and Mattera just clicked. She believes that a large draw for classes is Mattera herself.
“When she teaches a class, she’s very hands on and she just feels like a normal person,” Bettger said. “It doesn’t feel intimidating to be with her.”
Lessons aren’t always as simple as baking cookies. Bettger said a couples class they host includes four different steaks, mashed potatoes and chocolate-dipped strawberries. Another class in the works will teach participants how to cut and cook a whole, raw chicken. Bettger said there are also plans to host a budget-cooking class for seniors
Those interested in booking a cooking class or joining a book club can visit cooksandbooksco.com. Classes range from one to two hours long and vary in price. The store is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at 2951 E. Overland Road, Ste. 110 in Meridian.
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