Once Upon a Thyme ....

The Story of The Spirit of the Herbfarm Restaurant by Ron Zimmerman

It was during the late 90s that Ron began writing his book. As a matter of fact, it was almost done. Titled The Herbfarm Menu Cookbook, it was almost ready for print. Ten Speed Press had offered a contract and an advance, but life and business got in the way, so Zimmerman tabled it “for later”.

He worked on it from March 2022 until he died earlier this year. Carefully curated recipes would only be part of this book. A great cookbook and memoir of Ron Zimmerman requires thorough descriptions and origins, words that tell a heartfelt story, along with beautiful photography and artwork. To Ron, all these components were needed to tell the story to his liking.

After passing in April 2023, Carrie Van Dyck, his life partner and wife, enlisted a platoon of family, friends, and business associates to carry on the life of The Spirit of the Herbfarm Restaurant, and here is the progress.

Milestones Achieved

✔ 184 Full-Color InDesign recipe pages by RZ

✔ 40,000 words of the memoir written by RZ

✔✔ Writer/Editor hired to smooth memoir and interconnect both pieces. May and July 2023

✔ Recipe Testing and Editing completed Aug 2023

✔ Contracted with Sky Horse publishing (Simon & Schuster distribution).Signed Aug 2023

✔Smoothing and Connecting of memoir completed by Labor Day.

✔Complete Manuscript Submitted to Sky Horse by Sept 10

 In Progress

➞Assemble List of potential customer stores, Independent book stores, Food Stores, gift stores, and their contacts interested in carrying this book.

➞Final Cover Design

➞ Sky Horse Edit and discussion of book order, inserts, etc. 

➞ With Sky Horse decisions of whether or not to include additional photos and commentary

➞Foreword by Sinclair Philip of Sooke Harbour House , BC

➞Frequent updates to blog

➞Status Updates on Facebook and Instagram

To Do

□ Complete Cover Wrap design

□ Blurbs from Thomas Keller, Rene Redzepi, and Dan Barber

□ Indexing--by Sky Horse

□ Final Editing--November

□  Off to Printer from Sky Horse early December

□ Email to Pre-Publication customers to confirm shipping address in February

□  Advance air shipped copies to press late January

□  Pre-Publication orders Ready to Ship—March

□ In Bookstores and Amazon -May 2024