By Robyn Bresnahan
A new cookbook is on trial at the Ottawa courthouse. The verdict: It’s a raving success.
The cookbook, entitled Justice Is Served, was launched on Nov. 22. More than half the 500 copies printed have been sold, with proceeds of the sale going to charities.
“It’s selling like hot cakes,” laughed co-creator Nicole Goulard, a court reporter at the Ottawa courthouse. “We’ve been getting so much attention with it lately.”
The book is filled with signature recipes by Ottawa courthouse judges, lawyers and court staff.
It also includes histories of certain foods, crosswords and a historical courthouse story by Crown Prosecutor George Dzioba.
Goulard along with fellow court staff, Lucie Marchildon and Scott Turner decided to put the cookbook together after years of tasting the cuisine of their co-workers.
“We’re always throwing baby showers and wedding parties for each other, and we’ve discovered that we’re all pretty amazing cooks,” said Goulard.
To date, 300 copies of the cookbook have been sold and Marchildon says that most of the sales have come from people who work at the courthouse.
“Everyone here has been great, many people have bought more than one copy for their sons or daughters going to school or for Christmas presents,” she said.
Profits from Justice Is Served, which sells at the courthouse on Elgin Street for $15, go to Child Haven International and the United Way.
Marchildon says they hope to raise over $3,000 for the charities.
Tara Deadman of the United Way’s community services says the cookbook was a wonderful idea and she’s thrilled the profit will be helping the organization.
“The donations that are coming from the courthouse are very significant,” she explained.
“In the past year we raised $15.5 million and over 20 per cent of that came from corporate donations. It’s a great help, we’re very thankful.”
Goulard says that work on the cookbook was not an easy feat. It took nearly a year to complete.
“It was like pulling teeth, trying to get the recipes from people,” she said. “It was a lot more work than I ever expected.”
Goulard says that certain recipes are already gaining a reputation in the halls of the courthouse.
“Just the other day, someone came into work with a batch of shortbread cookies from the cookbook and they were really, really good.”
Marchildon and Goulard hint that another cookbook could be in the making sometime next year.
“We’re surprised at how successful it’s been,” says Goulard.