At Olio Piro, we believe that great food begins with the people who make it. That philosophy was on full display at Cook Club LA’s Farmers’ Market Social, a gathering that brought together home cooks, food artisans, and culinary enthusiasts to share homemade creations, exchange ideas, and celebrate the joy of cooking. Shortly after meeting Cook Club LA founder Nicole Herman at Cherry Bombe Jubilee in New York, Marie-Charlotte Piro was delighted to support the event, which reflects many of the same values that inspire Piro: craftsmanship, hospitality, meaningful connections, and a deep appreciation for exceptional ingredients.
Do What You Love
A lifelong cook and enthusiastic host, Nicole Herman arrived in LA [via NYC] and immediately began searching for a community of people who shared her love of cooking, and sharing food. What follows is that she stopped searching for a community and created one instead - Cook Club LA
Nicole founded Cook Club LA with the intention of creating a Los Angeles-based community that brings together people who share a passion for cooking, hands-on gatherings, shared meals, and meaningful connection - all around the homemade food they bring to the table.
What began as a simple idea has grown into Cook Club LA, a community that welcomes everyone from passionate home cooks to private chefs, caterers, restaurateurs, independent food makers, and CPG founders. Through thoughtfully designed themed gatherings, members come together to share what they’ve made, learn from one another, and build meaningful relationships around a shared love of food.
Culinary creativity
Recently, Cook Club LA presented The Farmers Market Social. For this special daytime edition, guests were inspired by a spring farmers’ market theme and brought homemade items to share and exchange. They created a beautiful ‘market’ together ~ filled with all their homemade creations to sample, discover, talk about and take home.
What counts as a homemade “good”? Cookies and tea cakes, jams and preserves, granola, pickles, spice blends, infused salts or sugars, focaccia and breads, sauces and spreads, spiced and candied nuts, syrups, hand pies… basically whatever you make, as long as it's delicious and homemade.
Guests enjoyed seasonal bites, spring mocktails, and custom matcha and tea lattes from Thinking of Her.
It’s All in the Details
Nicole’s mother [pictured with her here] joined her in Los Angeles for the event, lending a hand with many of the thoughtful details that make Cook Club LA gatherings feel so special. “Creating welcoming environments is in our DNA,” Nicole says. “My mom is an interior designer and has an incredible eye for design and detail. She taught me that the little touches matter. I definitely get my love of hospitality and making people feel cared for from her.”
Cook Club LA always includes something special at every event. Guests received a cheerful tote bag at the start of the event and left with it filled with delicious homemade take-aways from fellow home-cooks.
Always Something Extra Special
Marie-Charlotte Piro had recently met Nicole at Cherry Bombe Jubilee in New York City. Three weeks later, Piro was “absolutely delighted” to sponsor the raffle for the event. For this event, a lucky guest left with [The Perfect Pairing – Olio Piro.] an exquisite pairing designed to delight and inspire discerning gourmets and home-cooks - 500ml of Piro Extra Virgin Olive Oil alongside 250ml of Bonini Gustoso 8-year Aged Balsamic Vinegar.
Alissa Alban commented
“I’ve been to all the Cook Club LA events and at every one, I always discover something new ~ a hidden gem, an emerging food brand, or a specialty product that no one knows about.”
Connection: It’s What You Bring to the Table
When asked what keeps people returning to Cook Club LA, Nicole doesn’t point to the food—she points to the connections.
“Food is just the vehicle,” she says. “What people are really hungry for is Community.”
Each gathering brings together people from different backgrounds who share a common love of cooking, creativity, and hospitality. Conversations flow easily as guests exchange recipes, techniques, family traditions, and stories behind the dishes they’ve made.
“We’ve seen friendships form, collaborations happen, and business opportunities emerge from these gatherings,” Nicole says. “But more than anything, people leave feeling inspired. There’s something powerful about sharing a meal made by someone who genuinely cares about what they’re creating.”
Homemade is where the heart is, indeed.
Photo credits: MATT BEARD (@mattbeardphoto)
