In cookbooks, every recipe begins with a headnote: that small, personal window into why a dish matters, where it came from, and what it means. On this Friday night at the Presidio Theatre, we’re blowing those windows wide open.

Headnotes Live is Cookbook Week’s marquee event, a one-of-a-kind theatrical evening where today’s most compelling cookbook authors will take the stage to tell the stories that weave together food, memory, and ideas. Think live variety show, but make it culinary: part performance, part comedy, part revelation.

Produced by two of the creators of Pop-Up Magazine, the acclaimed live magazine that turned journalism into experience, this is an evening engineered for surprise.

With personal narratives about love, loss, family, science, and cultural identity, this show will bring some of your favorite cookbooks to life.

Come listen to the stories of authors including Ali Bouzari, Arnold Myint, Brandon Jew, Chuck Cruz, Crystal Wahpepah, Hailee Catalano, Harold McGee, Hetty Lui McKinnon, John Birdsall, Jon Kung, Justin Burke, Michele Norris, Nite Yun, Rogelio Garcia, and Soleil Ho. And who knows who might show up!

The evening kicks off with a pre-show reception hosted by Omnivore Books, San Francisco’s legendary cookbook destination. Ticket holders are invited to sip a cocktail or wine while mingling with some of the evening’s featured speakers, purchase books and get them signed.

Seating is general admission but limited priority seating tickets are available. We can’t wait to see you for cookbooks and community.

• Reception + book shopping/signing at 5 pm

• Theater doors open at 6:30 pm

• Show starts at 7 pm