Cookbook author brings Twilight fans to the kitchen

By HANNAH POORE, Student Writer

Gina Meyers (1994) wrote Love at First Bite: The Unofficial
Twilight Cookbook, which has been sold worldwide and brings together Twilight lovers of all ages and cooking skills.

While the cookbook includes dozens of Twilight-themed recipes, Meyers said it “is not really about cooking, it’s about bringing people together.”

She added that the cookbook aims to “reignite a spark of imagination in the kitchen, and to bring people of all ages back in the kitchen cooking and exploring life and opportunities.”

Readers can enjoy Meyers’ use of the Twilight theme throughout the entire cookbook. Named after the town where Twilight is set — Forks, Washington — recipes are categorized by number of forks: one-fork recipes are for beginners, two-fork recipes are moderate and three-fork recipes are the most advanced.

Every recipe in the cookbook is introduced with a quote from the Twilight series. Because the book mentions that Edward is a “vegetarian vampire,” Meyers made sure to include a section for vegetarians.

Today, Meyers has traveled around the U.S. and the world for book signings, cooking demonstrations, trivia contests and radio and TV show specials.

Enjoying wide popularity, in July 2010, the cookbook was featured on an episode of Alan Carr: Chatty Man, where the Twilight stars sampled the book’s punch recipe. Meyers said that Kellen Lutz, who plays Emmett Cullen in the Twilight movies, “went nuts over the secret ingredient: gummy worms.” See the Twilight Tribute Punch recipe at the end of this story and try the drink out!

Meyers, who graduated from Fresno State with a Bachelor of Science degree in business marketing and also attended Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in Paris, credits her success to goal setting and following her dreams.

“To pursue your passion is to follow your heart and to do the things that make sense,” Meyers said.

As for advice to others who are trying to find their passion in life, Meyers suggests that people remember all of the things they loved doing as a child. For her, it was hosting game show parties based off of The Price is Right. Inviting her neighborhood friends, Meyers would bake cupcakes and treats from scratch and set up a game show area in her backyard where she would quiz her friends and pass out prizes.

Meyers encourages cooks to believe in themselves and experiment, to go out on a limb and try new things. For those who need inspiration, she recommends reading different cookbook authors and watching different cooking shows.

“There’s nothing wrong with imitating others. Know that cooking is a culinary art form — so you will always develop your own natural abilities,” Meyers said.

Twilight Tribute Punch:
2 (10-ounce) packages of Frozen Strawberries, defrosted
1 (6-ounce) can lemonade concentrate, unthawed, defrosted-
1 quart of ginger ale
2 cups of raisins
6–8 gummy worms
Directions: Mix strawberries and lemonade concentrate in a blender. Next add ginger ale and transfer the beverage to a punch bowl, stir in the raisins and drape the gummy worms at the rim of the punch bowl. While pouring ginger ale, pay attention to fizzing. May use fresh strawberries or raspberries instead of frozen.