Residents have shared their collections in the past, and Linda Lakomek’s collection is no exception.
Lakomek, a Sun City resident, is not just a cookbook collector, but a dedicated one.
“I have been cooking from my cookbooks since the 1980s, although the collection part didn’t start until 2003,” she said. “But once it did, there was no turning back.”
At one point, Sun City resident Linda Kakomek had over 2,000 cookbooks in her collection. (Photo by Christine Such/My Sun Day News)
Many brides receive their first cookbook (or a well-used family cookbook) at a bridal shower. The Better Homes & Gardens New Cookbook is one of the world’s most recognized books with its distinctive red-and-white plaid cover.
Lakomek said, “I remember carefully reading my mother’s copy of ‘Better Homes and Gardens.’ The book that started the collection process was, ‘A Treasury of Great Recipes’ by Vincent and Mary Price. Vincent Price is the actor so familiar to us from his classic horror films.”
The cookbook is the first one written by a celebrity. The cookbook follows Price’s travels through Europe, Mexico, and the United States, and features the menus of restaurants they visited and loved, along with recipes from those menus.
“Over the years, my collection had swelled to over 2,000 books, but when we moved to our home in Del Webb in 2022, I had to cull the collection, donating over twelve full and heavy boxes of cookbooks to our Huntley Library,” Lakomek said. “My current collection is about 1,200 cookbooks, limited to my space in my cookbook room.”
The cookbook room has shelves from top to bottom. Each shelf is packed with cookbooks. The books are organized by type. There are baking books: cookies, pies, cakes. There are vegetarian and cultural books, too, all organized by shelf. The cookbooks are from 1990 to the present.
Lakomek said, “My new acquisitions need to replace an existing cookbook. The room is full.”
Lakomek has all the baking equipment needed in one cabinet, including cookie cutters, mats, and pans. She also has a display of cake stands. She loves baking Christmas cookies and hosts a cookie exchange for the neighborhood.
The Lakomeks love to entertain and enjoy planning, shopping, and putting food on the table.
“My favorite recipes have many steps with unique and unusual ingredients,” she said. “We have twenty-one sets of dinnerware. I have a tablecloth closet that has one for every occasion. I love setting the table with folded napkins.
As expected, Lakomek hosts holiday dinners. She loves cooking every dish for the occasion.
“It’s part of fun. I love making it all,” she said.
The Lakomeks have two daughters. Lakomek said, “Lauren is my sous chef, and Carrie is my firefighter, and she cooks for the station.”
Jerry Lakomek said, “I enjoy being the taste taster for Linda, especially for the pastries and cakes.”
What’s next for Lakomek?
“I would love to start an active cookbook club here in Del Webb. I believe that cooking is not just about the food but the joy of sharing it with others. I would gather like-minded people to pick a cookbook, select recipes for each member, and then enjoy the meal together. It’s a wonderful way to bond over our love for cooking,” she said.
