Hi Everybody

First things first. I am thrilled to tell you that FAB colleague, ace bookseller, and dear friend Pat Rudebusch will be the new owner of Orinda Books! Danny and I could not be happier to pass on the store to someone as passionate and knowledgeable and loved in the community as she is. I can slip out quietly (after a bit of a party on Sept 14th - all welcome!) confident that the store will only go from strength to strength. It's been a tricky few months for all of us, but such a happy ending.

Danny and I were delighted (but not that surprised) to see the number of people who were attracted to the idea of taking on their local indie bookstore. We live in such a wonderful, literary community of supportive customers who understand the whole shop local concept…and with the exciting plans for downtown Orinda being discussed and developed, things are only going to get better and better. 

I can slope off down to our menagerie in Carmel Valley knowing that everything is in excellent hands… but wishing you could all follow me there.

Anyway, we hope you will stop by to say hello and congrats to Pat (and husband Glenn who I am sure has promised to work the counter during the holidays). We are planning a celebratory party on September 14th at the store from 1-3 PM. And on September 30th I will hand over the keys! So strange to be writing all this.

But until then it is business as usual… we still have some wonderful events through August and September and beyond – check out our website or see below.

We had a good ol’ British afternoon tea today (courtesy of Susan Leech from Orinda Antiques) with scones, thick luscious cream and berries, together with cucumber sandwiches, shortbread, freshly brewed leaf tea and (not so British) Prosecco. Gillian Gray of Rose and Heather Tours gave a great presentation on the history of British gardens - grand and not so grand - from the Medieval era to the current day and all gardening and cook books were offered at a discount. If you missed the boat (it sold out in two days!) we are planning another event soon, so call to get on the waiting list. 

As always thanks for all your support. Come in and meet Pat if you don’t already know her. See you all soon,

Maria and all of us at O Books.

TWO EXTRAORDINARY LUNCHEON EVENTS SCHEDULED IN SEPTEMBER

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH AT 11:30 AM

WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HOST

ORINDA'S VERY OWN

AMANDA HAAS

former Culinary Director of  Williams-Sonoma and  manager of their test kitchen Amanda has developed hundreds of recipes. She founded  One Family One Meal , which offers resources, menus, and advice for families to simplify cooking and help them come together for meals. After years of stomach pain, nausea and back spasms Amanda started to explore the role of diet as it related to the inflammation in her body. She wrote The  Anti-Inflammation Cookbook to help us understand how eating whole foods can impact one’s health. We are so excited she will be here with her latest book

THE VIBRANT LIFE: EAT WELL, BE WELL

Luncheon will feature a delicious recipe from the book

Tickets are $20 which includes a $5 coupon off the price of the cookbook.

Call 925-254-7606 to make your reservation.

Amanda says:. I’m a cookbook author, brand ambassador, cooking video host, and recipe developer. I guess I’m also a business owner. I’ve been in business for myself for about a year now, but I had no idea I was starting my own company when I struck out on my own to free-lance. It’s just hitting me now. (Like, right this very minute.) I have two teenage sons who are my biggest food critics, but secretly I know they’re into my work. I cook simple, clean food that is heavy on the veg and protein.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH AT 11:30 AM

MEET DUENDE'S PAUL CANALES

& AMOD CHOPRA OF VIK'S CHAAT

AT OUR CULINARY EXTRAVAGANZA

introducing the latest cookbook

from award winning food writer

CAROLYN JUNG

Carolyn Jung is an award-winning food and wine writer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. For 11 years, she was the food writer/editor for the San Jose Mercury News. She also was a contributor to the “Good Living” section of Gourmet magazine, and to the book, The Slow Food Guide to San Francisco and the Bay Area.

$40 includes a copy of the cookbook

East Bay Cooks: Signature Recipes from the Best Restaurants, Bars, and Bakeries

and luncheon featuring recipes from the book prepared and cooked by our guest chefs!

Call 925-254-7606—seating is limited.

The book includes stories of chefs and restaurateurs who persevered when they opened their establishments during one of the most devastating economic downturns in history. It spotlights businesses that have endured for generations, as well as ones that are barely a year old. Recipes run the gamut from classic to cutting-edge, from meat-centric to vegetable-focused to vegan, and encompass a myriad of cuisines and cultures. Get your taste buds ready for everything from “Oysters with Habanero-Blood Orange Granita” and “Noodles with Pan-Seared Duck Breast in Thai Red Curry” to “Txakolina Sorbet with Preserved-Lemon Tuiles.”

BEAUTIFUL BARGAINS

We are continuing to feature a gift table offering handmade handicrafts made by the women of Mumbai under the sponsorship of Industree, an organization dedicated to building sustainable livelihoods in the creative manufacturing sector to ensure that underemployed women can have high and regular incomes, decent and equitable working conditions, and the ability to cope with life crises.