For more than two decades, Corey and Laura Reilly have called Stratford home, raising two children and dreaming of opening a business in the town they love. For several years the couple’s nightly walks to Paradise Green from their nearby home kept the dream alive, but none of the available spaces seemed right. When a former beauty shop space opened up, Corey knew the time was now.
The space had outlets, water stations, and room enough to where Reilly was able to share his culinary knowledge and experiences with our community.
Reilly is no stranger to cooking, which he said has been his lifelong passion. “I have been involved in the hospitality industry since I was 15 years old. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in 1994, my career took me to incredible food destinations—from the artistic charm of Santa Fe to the bustling kitchens of New York City and the laid-back vibes of Key West. I’ve also traveled through Italy, France, and Spain, learning from their rich culinary traditions and vibrant markets. Over the years, I’ve worked in top restaurants, hotels, and catering companies, and even owned my own restaurants, where I brought my own creative style to the menu.”
For the past 12 years, he focused on food service consulting, helping design beautiful, and functional spaces for chefs and restaurateurs around the world.
“At Foodies, my goal is to share not just recipes,” he says, “but the skills, stories, and inspiration I’ve gathered along the way. Whether you’re here to sharpen your cooking skills or simply try something new, I hope you’ll find fresh ideas and a love for great food here. Along the way, we’ve met so many amazing foodies and created a true community space where people can come together, learn, and celebrate the joy of cooking.”
An article in Tasting Table magazine, 11 Culinary Bookstores You Need To Visit Across The US, as well as a recent cooking segment on CBS This Morning led to the realization of just how important the subject is, and how delighted we are that Stratford is home to this well-recognized culinary bookstore.
Read More: https://www.tastingtable.com/1089622/culinary-bookstores-you-need-to-visit-across-the-us/
How and why I chose cookbooks:
According to Reilly, “Cookbooks have always been my favorite kind of book—they’re part inspiration, part guide, and part keepsake. I chose them because they tell stories through recipes and connect people to cultures, traditions, and creativity. Plus, they’re a great way to keep learning new techniques and flavors.”
His cookbook inventory includes new, used, vintage, and antique, all of which are for sale.
And now for the best part: his cooking classes, with a menu that changes every week. “Depending on the class space needed, we have between 10 and 14 people per class. The classes have proven to be very popular; we see birthday parties, showers, wedding parties, Christmas parties, as well as private classes. We are sold out for August and September and now booking for October.”
A sampling of his cooking classes include:
- Handmade Pasta classes
- Little Italy (Potato Gnocchi, Caesar Salad, Tiramisu Class)
- Asian Dumpling class
- Mexican Street Foods cooking class
- French Bistro Cooking class
- Bagel Making class
- Taste of Spain Paella class
- Garlic Lovers cooking class
- Pickle classes
- Fall Apple Pie class
Eat drink and be merry! Stop by and shop, or take a class at our town’s culinary bookstore!
