The CookBook Library at Freedom Rose House

Cookbooks and cooking: Just the words stir up feelings ranging from cooking as a passion to cooking as a chore. If you see cooking as art, expression, or profession, you may return from the Monterey - Santa Cruz area feeling relaxed and inspired.

For those who think of cooking as kitchen drudgery, you're in luck because of exceptional fine dining restaurants in nearby Monterey, or the simple pleasure of a hot dog on the beach in Santa Cruz. But this cookbook library page is for B&B guests who can find both comfort and inspiration in a 12,000 cookbook library. "It's All About Food" is a library of cookbooks found throughout the United States over a twenty five year period by local writer and culinary teacher, Jean Fortenbery.

The "It's All About Cooking" cookbook library is open to registered B&B guests free of charge, and to the general public for a nominal fee. Books cannot be removed, but a free photocopy is available for B&B guests.

Jean Fortenbery is a Food Writer for the Watsonville Register newspaper, with headquarters here in California's fertile agricultural region. Jean is available to answer guest questions by e-Mail about cooking and cookbooks.