Food has always meant more than something to eat for Nicole Herman. Cooking is a way to express creativity, bring people together and share experiences. That passion for food inspired Herman to establish Cook Club, a Los Angeles-based culinary community where people connect through homemade dishes and shared dining experiences.
When Herman moved to LA roughly six years ago, her first goal was to find a community of people who shared her enthusiasm for cooking. She struggled to find one, but instead of giving up, she decided to create it herself.
“I moved to LA about six years ago and was looking for a community to share my hobby and passion for cooking with. I couldn’t find one,” Herman said. “So this idea had been percolating in my mind to start one, to find the people who also enjoyed the pleasure of cooking and food as much as I did and wanted to share it.”
Cook Club hosts a variety of gatherings, including monthly themed potlucks and hands-on culinary workshops. During potluck events, participants prepare dishes inspired by a designated theme and share the stories behind their creations.
One of the club’s most popular potlucks was “Cook From Your Culture,” which invited participants to bring dishes representing their heritage, identity or personal experiences. The gathering featured dishes representing 16 nationalities, with many attendees sharing recipes rooted in family traditions and blended cultural backgrounds.
Another popular event was Herman’s Braid & Brunch workshop. The gathering partnered with a local husband-and-wife baking team to teach attendees how to braid hair and bake traditional challah bread.
Herman emphasized that these gatherings welcome people of all culinary skill levels.
“We all care deeply about food, but we’re all connected to food in different ways. So some of us are just passionate home cooks,” Herman said.
“Some of us are people who are novices in the kitchen, but have an interest in learning, leveling up and having an occasion to practice cooking.”
Herman prioritizes creating an inviting environment where participants feel comfortable meeting new people. She welcomes all attendees, introduces them to other members and encourages everyone to share the inspiration behind their dishes.
Herman said that approach has helped cultivate friendships, professional partnerships, creative collaborations and romantic relationships.
“It’s been amazing to see, you know, people meeting up outside of Cook Club to do all sorts of activities,” Herman said.
Cook Club also encourages members to experiment with food through creative formats.
The Farmers Market Social was an “outside-the-box” event where, instead of bringing a shared potluck dish, attendees brought individually wrapped homemade goods to swap.
Each participant collected a treat from everyone in attendance, leaving with a tote bag of goodies to enjoy throughout the week.
Looking ahead, Herman hopes to expand Cook Club beyond Los Angeles and develop a model that can be replicated in other cities. She said she has received numerous messages from people wishing a chapter existed in their hometowns.
For more information on upcoming events, follow Cook Club on Instagram @cookclub.la.