Cookbook Village recently launched its new online store specializing in vintage and used cookbooks. Now, Its popular Cookbook Collecting and Reviews blog, launched several years prior, has been integrated into the site. Prior to the move, the blog was a separate site built on Google's Blogger platform. The company's online store meanwhile is powered by Shopify, an ecommerce platform. For customers and blog readers, the transition between the two sites led to some confusion. 

Cookbook Village owner Ruben Guerin explained, "The company's new Shopify-built online store was nearly perfect, except for the separate blog site. We want users to have a seamless one-stop cookbook shopping and learning experience. That wasn't possible, for many reasons, with two separate sites. The blog offers such rich content for cookbook enthusiasts, it would be a shame not to showcase it in the same home."

Cookbook Collecting and Reviews utilizes a traditional navigation system with dropdown menus and full page articles, even on the blog's main page. The audience enjoys research including learning about collectible cookbooks, values, chef bios and signature samples, and more. Articles can be quickly navigated like a website, but the content retains a blog vibe.

Implementing its new blog was no easy feat so the company turned to web services firm Hidden Gears to replicate its Blogger site on Shopify. Some tweaks were required to mirror the old blog's feel, but in the end Cookbook Village got the complete site it envisioned. Now visitors can Pin, Like, Tweet, +1 and research collectible cookbooks to their hearts content... and do their shopping.

Signed cookbooks are a popular category on Cookbook Village's vintage and used cookbooks online store. We are constantly adding these collectible cookbooks to our inventory so make sure to check back for autographed books from your favorite chefs. Following is a snapshot of some of the recent signatures we've posted for purchase. 

• Helen Corbitt's Potluck cookbook - signature Helen Corbitt 
• Morning Food cookbook from Cafe Beaujolais - signature Margaret Fox 
• Nothing Fancy cookbook - signed by Diana Kennedy 
• Damiano's At the Tarrimore House cookbook - autographed by Lisa and Anthony Damiano 
• The Sutter Home Napa Valley Cookbook - signed by James McNair 

Cookbook Village just posted a collectibility review of its highest valued cookbook of 2011. Autographed by legendary singer Johnny Mathis, this Cooking for You Alone cookbook was our top cookbook sold during the past year. A collectible even unsigned, fans and collectors search for this recipe book online year after year. It is considered scarce and is sought after by collectors around the country. Some have noted searching for it for years. 

Find out how it scored in our collectibility rating system and its prospects for future investment. See the Cookbook Village collectibility review of the Johnny Mathis Cooking for You Alone cookbook. 

Read the Review 

Our continued series of articles on signed cookbooks now includes the 5 Most Creative Chef Signatures from the Cookbook Village collection. We cover the signatures that reflect the true creativity and originality of each of the chefs that made our list. Some are from signed cookbooks of chefs of the past, others are contemporary. These culinary legends each have a signature style that is stands out from the rest with caricatures and drawings that make them a true artist.

See who made our Cookbook Village list of the 5 Most Creative Chef Signatures

Cookbook Village just posted a mouth-watering chocolate lovers' recipe. Beware... it's dangerous. The Chocolate Almond Bark with Sea Salt recipe was contributed to us courtesy of Lori Curie, the recipe's developer and publisher of Lori's Favorite Things Food and Recipes Blog. Lori has some wonderful tips and we are excited to share this recipe. We've tasted it first hand and positively delicious.

Trader Joe's shoppers will appreciate it even more as its suggested ingredients come from the popular food store. Of course, if you are unable to visit a Trader Joe's, check online as you may be able to locate the same brands. Otherwise there are substitutes which could be made for the almond and chocolate suggestions.

Visit Cookbook Village Collecting & Reviews blog here to get the recipe.