Shanta Nimbark Sacharoff, a local author who has published three cookbooks and a book on the local history of food cooperatives, will read from her current book, Cooking Together to discuss the importance of sharing food and food preparation to build and sustain communities. Shanta will discuss the importance of herbs and spices in cooking. She will then teach us how to make two different kinds of chutney. Chutney is easy to prepare, a healthy and delicious condiment that can be eaten alongside a curry, used as a dip, or made into a sandwich spread. The possibilities are endless! Questions and answers will follow with free samples of chutneys, crackers, and chai made by the author. Space limited. Reservations required: (415) 355-2808 (starting October 22).