Lake Isle Press

Lake Isle Press, an independent publishing house that was founded in New York City in 1990, is the founding publisher of Rachael Ray's "30-Minute Meals" franchise.[1] The company later broadened its scope to other culinary themes, including gluten-free cooking and baking, solo cooking, and healthy microwave meals. Eventually, Lake Isle Press came to specialize in cookbooks rooted in ethnic cuisines that were then unfamiliar to most home cooks, including Latin American, African, African-American, Indian, and Middle Eastern.[2] The company takes its name from the W.B. Yeats poem "The Lake Isle of Innisfree."[1]

Early history

Lake Isle was founded in 1990.[3] Its first titles were "Contemporary One-Dish Meals" by Mara Reid Rogers and "Low Fat Living for Real People" by Linda Levy and Francine Grabowski; both titles are now out of print.[2]

Among the highlights of Lake Isle Press's first decade was the publication of the paperback edition of James Beard Foundation Award winning cookbook author Jim Fobel's book "Jim Fobel's Old-Fashioned Baking Book."[2]

The Rachael Ray revolution

Toward the end of its first decade, Lake Isle Press Publisher Hiroko Kiiffner received a call from an unknown recipe developer from upstate New York with a request to publish her new cookbook.[4] Though Kiiffner was skeptical, she agreed to a meeting, and was immediately taken with the young author's energy and philosophy of cooking. Lake Isle Press published "Rachael Ray's 30-Minute Meals" in 1998 and an enduring cooking franchise was born. Lake Isle Press published thirteen books with Rachael Ray, including the popular "Rachael Ray's Classic 30-Minute Meals."[1]

The next stage

As Ray moved onto Food Network fame and signed a deal with Clarkson Potter, an imprint of Penguin Random House, Lake Isle Press retained control of the 30-Minute Meals titles published by Lake Isle Press,[5] and turned its focus to exploring culinary niches,[2] such as salads and gluten-free recipes, and ethnic cuisines with authentic recipes from chefs and culinary authorities including:

  • Pierre Thiam, a Senegalese chef based in America, is a pioneer of African cuisine[6] and founder of Yolélé, the purpose-driven natural food company that is centered on fonio, an ancient African supergrain. Pierre is executive chef and co-founder of Teranga in New York City and also the executive chef of the award-winning restaurant Nok by Alara in Lagos, Nigeria and the Signature Chef of the five-star Pullman Hotel in Dakar, Senegal.[7] His Lake Isle Press titles include "Yolélé: Recipes from the Heart of Senegal"; "Senegal: Modern Senegalese Recipes from the Source to the Bowl," written with Jennifer Sit; and "The Fonio Cookbook: An Ancient Grain Rediscovered."[2] "Yolélé" won the 2009 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards Special Jury Award[8] and was a finalist for the 2009 IACP Cookbook Award Julia Child First Book Award[9] "Senegal" was a nominee for a 2016 James Beard Foundation Award.[10] Pierre was inducted into the James Beard Foundation's Cookbook Hall of Fame in June 2024.[11]
  • Vikas Khanna is executive chef of New York City's acclaimed restaurant, Bungalow,[12] and founding chef of the Michelin-starred Junoon. Since 2011, he has a judge on MasterChef India. His two titles with Lake Isle Press are "Flavors First: An Indian Chef's Culinary Journey," winner of a 2012 Benjamin Franklin Award,[13] and Return to the Rivers: Recipes and Memories of the Himalayan Valleys," nominated for a 2014 James Beard Foundation Book Award.[14]
  • Jose Garces is an American chef and restaurant owner who won the second season of The Next Iron Chef. He was named 2009: Best Chef Mid-Atlantic, James Beard Foundation.[15] Jose's titles with Lake Isle Press are "Latin Evolution" and "The Latin Road Home."[2]

Lake Isle Press was acquired by Globe Pequot in January of 2026. “Lake Isle’s acclaimed cookbooks—known for showcasing diverse culinary traditions—are a natural complement to the strong food and cooking list we’ve built at Lyons Press and Globe Pequot,” said Bob Marsh, president of Globe Pequot, in a statement.[16]

Awards

  • 2009 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards Special Jury Award: "Yolélé, Recipes from the Heart of Senegal"[17]
  • 2009 IACP Julia Child First Book Award: "Yolélé, Recipes from the Heart of Senegal"[18]
  • Finalist, 2008 Benjamin Franklin Award: "Raising the Salad Bar"[19]
  • Finalist, 2010 Benjamin Franklin Award: "Easy Gluten-Free Baking"[20]
  • Winner, 2012 Benjamin Franklin Award: Flavors First: An Indian Chef's Culinary Journey"[13]
  • Silver Winner, 2014 Benjamin Franklin Award: Power Hungry: The Ultimate Energy Bar Cookbook"[21]
  • Nominee, 2014 James Beard Foundation Award: "Return to the Rivers: Recipes and Memories of the Himalayan Valleys"[22]
  • Nominee, 2016 James Beard Foundation Award: "Senegal: Modern Senegalese Recipes from the Source to the Bowl"[10]

Lake Isle Press publishing history

Lake Isle Press Titles[2]
Title Author Publication Date ISBN
Contemporary One Dish Meals Mara Reid Rogers 1/1/90 9780962740306 Out of print
Tray Gourmet Larry Berger and Lynn Harris 5/17/95 9780962740329 Out of print
Instant Ethnic Cook Mara Reid Rogers 5/17/95 9780962740343 Out of print
Low-Fat Living for Real People Linda Levy and Francine Grabowski, M.S., R.D. 12/29/97 9780962740350 Out of print
Jim Fobel's Old-Fashioned Baking Book Jim Fobel 4/2/96 9780962740367
Glorious Liqueurs Mary Aurea Morris 10/1/96 9780962740374
Fresh Eggs George Moran 10/7/97 9780962740381
Serves One Toni Lydecker 4/27/98 9781891105012
30-Minute Meals Rachael Ray 7/20/99 9781891105036
Comfort Foods: Rachael Ray's top 30 30-Minute Meals Rachael Ray 11/7/00 9781891105050
Veggie Meals: Rachael Ray's 30-Minute Meals Rachael Ray 5/15/01 9781891105067
The Best Diet on Earth Linda Levy and Francine Grabowski, M.S., R.D. CDE 4/14/03 9781891105081
Rachael Ray 30-Minute Meals 2 Rachael Ray 5/22/03 9781891105104
Rachael Ray 30-Minute Meals Get Togethers Rachael Ray 10/3/03 9781891105111
Cooking Rocks: Rachael Ray 30-Minute Meals for Kids Rachael Ray 9/20/04 9781891105159
At Hanka's Table Hanka Sawka 9/20/04 9781891105098
Rachael Ray: Best Eats in Town on $40 A Day Rachael Ray 10/12/04 781891105173
Kid Food: Rachael Ray Top 30 30-Minute Meals Rachael Ray 9/21/05 9781891105227
Guy Food: Rachael Ray Top 30 30-Minute Meals Rachael Ray 9/21/05 9781891105210
Small World of Antique Doll's Houses Flora Gill Jacobs 12/13/05 9781891105074
Boy Eats World! David Lawrence 4/26/06 9781891105256
Rachael Ray's Open House Cookbook Rachael Ray 9/5/06 9781891105319
Classic 30-Minute Meals: The All-Occasion Cookbook Rachael Ray 9/26/06 9781891105302
In Nirmala's Kitchen Nirmala Narine 10/4/06 9781891105265
The Cook-Zen Cookbook: Microwave Cooking the Japanese Way — Simple, Healthy, and Delicious Machiko Chiba 5/30/07 9781891105340
Raising the Salad Bar Catherine Walthers 6/05/07 9781891105333
Latin Evolution Jose Garces 8/4/08 9781891105371
The New African-American Kitchen Angela Shelf Medearis 8/21/08 9781891105395
Yolele: Recipes from the Heart of Senegal Pierre Thiam 8/25/08 9781891105388
Easy Gluten-Free Baking Elizabeth Barbone 3/16/09 9781891105418
Ten Ingredients for a Joyous Life and Peaceful Home Angela Shelf Medearis 5/16/09 9781891105401 Out of print
Seafood Alla Siciliana Toni Lydecker 9/16/09 9781891105425
The Cook-Zen Way To Eat: Microwaving Healthy and Delicious Meals in Minutes Machiko Chiba 8/16/10 9781891105449
Soups + Sides Catherine Walthers 9/16/10 9781891105456
Kitchen Diva Cooks Angela Shelf Medearis 12/16/10 9781891105463 Out of Print
Flavors First: An Indian Chef's Culinary Journey Vikas Khanna 7/16/11 9781891105470
Piatto Unico: When One Course Makes a Real Italian Meal Toni Lydecker 10/16/11 9781891105487
Party Like a Culinista Jill Donenfeld and Joseth Gordon 10/16/11 9781891105500
How to Cook Gluten-Free Elizabeth Barbone 3/16/12 9781891105517
The Latin Road Home Jose Garces 10/8/11 9781891105494
Power Hungry: The Ultimate Energy Bar Cookbook Camilla V. Saulsbury 9/10/13 9781891105548
Return to the Rivers Vikas Khanna with Andrew Blackmore-Dobbyn 12/7/13 9781891105531
Senegal: Modern Senegalese Recipes from the Source to the Bowl Pierre Thiam and Jennifer Sit 9/15/15 9781891105555
The Chickpea Flour Cookbook Camilla V. Saulsbury 10/7/15 781891105562
World's Easist Paleo Baking Elizabeth Barbone 1/7/16 9781891105579
The Cook-Zen Wagashi Cookbook Machiko Chiba 1/7/18 9781891105623
The Bread & Salt Between Us: Recipes & Stories From a Syrian Refugee's Kitchen Mayada Anjari with Jennifer Sit 9/7/18 9781891105630
The Fonio Cookbook: An Ancient Grain Rediscovered Pierre Thiam 11/11/19 9781891105692

References

  1. ^ a b c Adriani, Lynn. "Lake Isle Celebrates 20 Years". PublishersWeekly.com. Publishers Weekly. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Lake Isle Press Publishing History". Lake Isle Press. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  3. ^ "Lake Isle Press/About". Lake Isle Press. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  4. ^ Sagon, Candy (Jan 14, 2004). "Talks Fast, Cooks Quick, Hates to Measure". Washington Post. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  5. ^ Finn, Natalie. "Rachael Ray Timeline: A Media Star is Born". TV Week. Dexter Canfield Media Inc. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  6. ^ "Cuisines of Africa and the African Diaspora Lecture Series". Culinary Institute of America. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  7. ^ "Pierre Thiam". Pierre Thiam.
  8. ^ "GOURMAND INTERNATIONAL - WORLD COOKBOOK AWARDS". old.cookbookfair.com.
  9. ^ 2009 IACP Cookbook Award Julia Child First Book Award
  10. ^ a b "The 2016 James Beard Award Nominees".
  11. ^ Hill, Ethan (June 14, 2024). "Announcing The 2024 James Beard Foundation Media Award Winners".
  12. ^ Krishna, Priva (August 20, 2024). "No More Butter Chicken: Where Indian Food Finally Gets to Be Itself". The New York Times. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Benjamin Franklin Award™ Winners and Finalists 2012".
  14. ^ Ledbetter, Cartly (18 March 2014). "James Beard Foundation Announces Nominees For 2014 Awards". Huff Post. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  15. ^ Lazor, Drew (May 2, 2009). "Chef Jose Garces wins Best Chef Mid-Atlantic at James Beard Awards". Citypaper.net. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  16. ^ Jim, Milliot (January 6, 2026). "Globe Pequot Buys Lake Isle Press". PublshersWeekly.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ "2008 Special Awards". The Gourmand Family. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  18. ^ "Awards and Honors". Library Thing. 18 March 2014. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  19. ^ "Benjamin Franklin Award™ Winners and Finalists 2008". Independent Book Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 22 January 2009. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  20. ^ "Benjamin Franklin Award™ Winners and Finalists 2010". Independent Book Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  21. ^ "IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards™ 2014 Winners". IBPA. Archived from the original on 10 February 2015.
  22. ^ Ledbetter, Carlly (18 March 2014). "James Beard Foundation Announces Nominees For 2014 Awards". Huff Post. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
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