In 1996, members of Assistance League^® of the Bay Area voted to create and publish its first cookbook, Settings on the Dock of the Bay.  The cookbook was three years in development as recipes were collected, tested, tasted, and rated, all while members hosted luncheons and dinner parties to narrow down selections.

Settings on the Dock of the Bay included a collection of creative and diverse recipes that expressed and explored the region’s multiplicity of cultures and commerce from the waters of the Gulf Coast to the outer limits of the universe.  Printed three times, this cookbook was awarded the prestigious 2000 Southwest Regional Winner of the Tabasco Community Cookbook Award.

Pleased with the success of the acclaimed first cookbook, Assistance League of the Bay Area decided to create a new collection of Texas Gulf Coast recipes.  The second cookbook, Settings Sunrise to Sunset, provided a culinary adventure as eclectic recipes spotlighted treasured favorites from members, area gourmets, and local restaurants.

In both cookbooks, the picturesque beauty of the Bay area was represented in beautiful photographs of local landmarks and scenic views captured by well-respected local photographer, Pam Culpepper, CCP.  Cookbook collectors were delighted in the clever menu selections, complete with wine and beverage selections that promised to make holiday parties and special events even more exceptional.

As we pay a fitting tribute to the end of an era, we invite you to peruse our website and specifically the page created for our award-winning cookbooks.

Scroll to the bottom and take a few moments to watch a chapter video that captures two decades of devotion to Settings on the Dock of the Bay and Settings Sunrise to Sunset.

“Some of my finest moments with Assistance League were working on our two cookbooks. It was a wonderful experience that I wish all of you could have participated in. Since this isn’t possible, love and treasure these books as we did.” ~Joy Smitherman, Chapter Member Since 1990