Serving Up Supper: Inside Rebekah Ho’s No Pressure Cookbook Club

Ready to spice up your social calendar? Vancouver-based host and home cook Rebekah Ho has launched @nopressure.cookbookclub, a laid-back, potluck-style gathering for food lovers of all levels. With quarterly events focused on good eats, great company, and zero stress, this new club is all about trying fresh recipes, sharing a meal, and maybe making a few new friends along the way (but—true to the name—no pressure). We caught up with Rebekah to hear all about her delicious new venture. —Noa Nichol

What inspired you to start the No Pressure Cookbook Club, and what do you hope it brings to the Vancouver food community?

My friend moved to Montreal and told me that she joined a cookbook club there as a way to make friends, and I was inspired by her! The hope is for people to bond over food and make new friends, and even if you don’t meet your new BFF at No Pressure, you’ll at least have more familiar faces in your life and keep seeing the same people at future events.

The name is so inviting—how did you come up with “No Pressure” and what does it mean to you in the context of cooking and gathering?

It sometimes surprises people when I tell them that I didn’t learn to cook until my late 20s. I don’t come from a family that passed down recipes and cooking traditions (although eating is a big part of my family culture!), so I learned to cook completely from cookbooks, recipes I found on the Internet, and TikTok. Being a home cook means you go through a lot of trial and error, and I think I and a lot of people who like to cook put a lot of pressure on getting things right, so I want to make it clear that your dish doesn’t have to be perfect in order for you to bring it. Cooking and sharing should be fun!

What can guests expect from a typical event? Are there any themes, cookbooks, or formats you’re planning to follow each quarter?

For our first event, we’re cooking through Tiffy Cooks’ cookbook. We all choose a recipe, cook it, and bring it to share potluck-style. I’m definitely up for experimenting with the format in the future. We’ll be switching up venues and cookbooks and maybe even go with more of a themed-style event. I think a sandwich swap in the park during summertime would be really fun!

What would you say to someone who loves food but feels nervous about bringing a dish to a potluck?

There’s no judgment here, and I’m also happy to help with any questions that might come up! I know what it’s like to not know how to chop an onion or feel uncertain if my chicken is cooked properly, so my DMs are always open, and I’m happy to find resources to help you.

Why do you think potlucks and shared meals are such a powerful way to build community?

I think it’s because everyone has a part to play. If you don’t show up, we don’t get to try your dish, so your presence matters.

Looking ahead, what are your dreams for how No Pressure Cookbook Club might grow or evolve? Could you see it expanding beyond Vancouver?

Part of keeping this cookbook club no pressure for me is to not stress about it, so there aren’t any plans on expanding locations or cadence for now, but one thing I do dream of is doing collaborations! I’d love to partner with venues and chefs. I’ve actually had a few people reach out already to chat about collaborating, so it’s very exciting.

What’s your all-time or current fave no-pressure recipe?

I love soy sauce-marinated eggs. You can batch-make them and keep them in the fridge for whenever you need to add protein to a dish, or just eat them with rice and some seaweed. Plus, the longer you leave them in the sauce, the more flavourful they get. I use this recipe from Bon Appetit.