Recipe For Rare Cookbook Deals

Ellin Palmer at her cookbook stand at the Mar Vista farmers market.

(Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)

With more than 600 titles in her inventory, Ellin Palmer’s cookbook collection is a time capsule of sorts, representing some of the key volumes of the last 60 years.

Until recently, those books have lived mostly in boxes that have overtaken Palmer’s 400-square-foot apartment, overflowing onto tables and into the bedroom, sequestering Palmer to her kitchen and to one side of the couch.

But now, on select Sundays, she can be found arranging out-of-print pearls for sale at the Mar Vista farmers market and troubleshooting recipes with regulars. Customers frequently linger to talk cooking and trade intel, exchanging the unique currency of kitchen knowledge and anecdotes.