Meet a cookbook power couple

Some people are destined to write cookbooks. At least it seems that way when they are able to write dozens of bestselling books on numerous topics and assemble a huge following. I’m talking about Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough, two prolific authors who write about everything from Instant Pots to ham to chocolate cookies. A charming article in The Hartford Courant goes behind the scenes with this cookbook power couple so we can learn about their interesting backstory.

It is amazing that two people from such diverse backgrounds who lived thousands of miles from each other even met in the first place. Mark was a professor with a degree in American literature who lived and worked in Texas. Bruce was an aspiring writer and culinary school dropout from NYC who had never left the area. Mark went to New York in 1996 on a business trip, met Bruce in an online forum, and the two decided to meet the next day in person. They’ve been together ever since.

Together the pair has written over 30 cookbooks on a wide array of subjects. Bruce does the heavy lifting on recipe development and testing, while Mark concentrates on the writing and managing the photoshoots and related tasks. In between cookbooks (their most recent is The Essential Air Fryer Cookbook), the duo is shooting weekly podcasts (they have done over 200 podcasts in four years) and creating YouTube videos. Known for their lavish dinner parties, the couple also nurtures their other loves. Bruce is an avid knitter and designer while Mark teaches literature, lectures and more.

In addition to the article linked above, you can read Jane’s 2014 interview with Bruce and Mark. Back then they had written a mere 22 cookbooks!