Fans of Tini Younger packed the auditorium at the Chesapeake Arts Center in Brooklyn Park as the celebrity chef and social media personality made a stop on her multistate cookbook tour.
The Frederick County native released her debut cookbook, “Today We Are Cooking… Recipes That Teach You to Think Like a Chef,” on Tuesday, which features more than 100 beginner-friendly recipes.
Younger, who has a combined following of 15.2 million on TikTok and Instagram, told the Capital Gazette that she hopes her cookbook inspires first-time cooks to get in the kitchen.
“I feel like for my generation, cooking is a lost art because we have the delivery apps,” she said. “A lot of people my age don’t really know how to cook, so I just want more people cooking.”
Younger said cookbooks usually take two years, but she wanted it done “as quickly as possible.”
“So, I did it within a year,” she said. “We had to get all 100-plus recipes in by three months. That was very hard, but definitely very rewarding now because everyone has it, and they can use it for their holidays.”
Wednesday’s event was hosted by Park Books Maryland and helped raise money for two local nonprofits: The Park Literacy Project and The Food Project.
The Food Project provides food for people in Baltimore City and also teaches young people how to cook. The Park Literacy Project, the bookstore’s nonprofit arm, raises funds to bring free book fairs and author experiences to schools with kids in need.
Melody Wukitch, the owner of Park Books Maryland, said Wednesday’s event raised over $13,000 for Park Literacy Project and donated almost 60 cookbooks to families and young chefs at the Food Project.
“This one event can give an entire school a really good reading engagement activity and get them excited around books,” Wukitch said. “I was so excited about how it came together.”
During the event, Younger made her crab dip recipe on stage while answering pre-submitted questions from fans. Jimmy’s Seafood also catered the featured dip, and attendees got to try a sample on their way out.
Ashley Kaiser and Megan Madison, from Sykesville, said they wanted a girls’ night out to learn new recipes in time for the holiday season. They sipped on “AppleTinis,” a specialty drink at the event, while eagerly waiting for Younger to come out.
“I’ve actually been following Tini on TikTok for a while now,” Kaiser said. “I’m excited to get a little sample of what she makes. I’ve never been to a show like this before, so I am very excited to see what it’s like.”
Tammy DePascal and Jennifer Cook from Arnold said they are huge fans of Younger and love watching her recipe videos on TikTok.
Chef and social media personality Tini Younger, a Maryland native from Frederick, demonstrates how to make crab dip and answers questions from fans during an event at the Chesapeake Arts Center in Brooklyn Park. The event was presented by Park Literacy Project and Park Books of Maryland in partnership with Chesapeake Arts Center and Jimmy’s Famous Seafood. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)
Chef and social media personality Tini Younger, a Maryland native from Frederick, demonstrates how to make crab dip and answers questions from fans during an event at the Chesapeake Arts Center in Brooklyn Park. The event was presented by Park Literacy Project and Park Books of Maryland in partnership with Chesapeake Arts Center and Jimmy’s Famous Seafood. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)
Chef and social media personality Tini Younger, a Maryland native from Frederick, demonstrates how to make crab dip and answers questions from fans during an event at the Chesapeake Arts Center in Brooklyn Park. The event was presented by Park Literacy Project and Park Books of Maryland in partnership with Chesapeake Arts Center and Jimmy’s Famous Seafood. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)
Chef and social media personality Tini Younger, a Maryland native from Frederick, demonstrates how to make crab dip and answers questions from fans during an event at the Chesapeake Arts Center in Brooklyn Park. The event was presented by Park Literacy Project and Park Books of Maryland in partnership with Chesapeake Arts Center and Jimmy’s Famous Seafood. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)
Chef and social media personality Tini Younger, a Maryland native from Frederick, demonstrates how to make crab dip and answers questions from fans during an event at the Chesapeake Arts Center in Brooklyn Park. The event was presented by Park Literacy Project and Park Books of Maryland in partnership with Chesapeake Arts Center and Jimmy’s Famous Seafood. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)
Fan Brittany Westmoreland reads her copy of Tini Younger’s cookbook before the event. Chef and social media personality Tini Younger, a Maryland native from Frederick, demonstrates how to make crab dip and answers questions from fans during an event at the Chesapeake Arts Center in Brooklyn Park. The event was presented by Park Literacy Project and Park Books of Maryland in partnership with Chesapeake Arts Center and Jimmy’s Famous Seafood. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)
Chef and social media personality Tini Younger, a Maryland native from Frederick, demonstrates how to make crab dip and answers questions from fans during an event at the Chesapeake Arts Center in Brooklyn Park. The event was presented by Park Literacy Project and Park Books of Maryland in partnership with Chesapeake Arts Center and Jimmy’s Famous Seafood. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)
Chef and social media personality Tini Younger, a Maryland native from Frederick, demonstrates how to make crab dip and answers questions from fans during an event at the Chesapeake Arts Center in Brooklyn Park. The event was presented by Park Literacy Project and Park Books of Maryland in partnership with Chesapeake Arts Center and Jimmy’s Famous Seafood. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)
Tini Younger, left, takes the stage for a sound check before the event. Chef and social media personality Tini Younger, a Maryland native from Frederick, demonstrates how to make crab dip and answers questions from fans during an event at the Chesapeake Arts Center in Brooklyn Park. The event was presented by Park Literacy Project and Park Books of Maryland in partnership with Chesapeake Arts Center and Jimmy’s Famous Seafood. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)
Before the event, Tini Younger personally presigned 400 copies of her debut cookbook for fans attending the event. Chef and social media personality Tini Younger, a Maryland native from Frederick, demonstrates how to make crab dip and answers questions from fans during an event at the Chesapeake Arts Center in Brooklyn Park. The event was presented by Park Literacy Project and Park Books of Maryland in partnership with Chesapeake Arts Center and Jimmy’s Famous Seafood. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)
Before the event, Tini Younger personally presigned 400 copies of her debut cookbook for fans attending the event. Chef and social media personality Tini Younger, a Maryland native from Frederick, demonstrates how to make crab dip and answers questions from fans during an event at the Chesapeake Arts Center in Brooklyn Park. The event was presented by Park Literacy Project and Park Books of Maryland in partnership with Chesapeake Arts Center and Jimmy’s Famous Seafood. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)
Before the event, Tini Younger personally presigned 400 copies of her debut cookbook for fans attending the event. Chef and social media personality Tini Younger, a Maryland native from Frederick, demonstrates how to make crab dip and answers questions from fans during an event at the Chesapeake Arts Center in Brooklyn Park. The event was presented by Park Literacy Project and Park Books of Maryland in partnership with Chesapeake Arts Center and Jimmy’s Famous Seafood. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)
Chef and social media personality Tini Younger, a Maryland native from Frederick, demonstrates how to make crab dip and answers questions from fans during an event at the Chesapeake Arts Center in Brooklyn Park. The event was presented by Park Literacy Project and Park Books of Maryland in partnership with Chesapeake Arts Center and Jimmy’s Famous Seafood. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)
Chef and social media personality Tini Younger, a Maryland native from Frederick, demonstrates how to make crab dip and answers questions from fans during an event at the Chesapeake Arts Center in Brooklyn Park. The event was presented by Park Literacy Project and Park Books of Maryland in partnership with Chesapeake Arts Center and Jimmy’s Famous Seafood. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)
Chef and social media personality Tini Younger, a Maryland native from Frederick, demonstrates how to make crab dip and answers questions from fans during an event at the Chesapeake Arts Center in Brooklyn Park. The event was presented by Park Literacy Project and Park Books of Maryland in partnership with Chesapeake Arts Center and Jimmy’s Famous Seafood. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)
Chef and social media personality Tini Younger, a Maryland native from Frederick, demonstrates how to make crab dip and answers questions from fans during an event at the Chesapeake Arts Center in Brooklyn Park. The event was presented by Park Literacy Project and Park Books of Maryland in partnership with Chesapeake Arts Center and Jimmy’s Famous Seafood. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)
Before the event, Tini Younger personally presigned 400 copies of her debut cookbook for fans attending the event. Chef and social media personality Tini Younger, a Maryland native from Frederick, demonstrates how to make crab dip and answers questions from fans during an event at the Chesapeake Arts Center in Brooklyn Park. The event was presented by Park Literacy Project and Park Books of Maryland in partnership with Chesapeake Arts Center and Jimmy’s Famous Seafood. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)
Chef and social media personality Tini Younger, a Maryland native from Frederick, demonstrates how to make crab dip and answers questions from fans during an event at the Chesapeake Arts Center in Brooklyn Park. The event was presented by Park Literacy Project and Park Books of Maryland in partnership with Chesapeake Arts Center and Jimmy’s Famous Seafood. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)
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Chef and social media personality Tini Younger, a Maryland native from Frederick, demonstrates how to make crab dip and answers questions from fans during an event at the Chesapeake Arts Center in Brooklyn Park. The event was presented by Park Literacy Project and Park Books of Maryland in partnership with Chesapeake Arts Center and Jimmy’s Famous Seafood. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)
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“I think we’ve all tried her mac and cheese, and it’s wonderful. That’s a hit in my house,” said DePascal. “I watched her cook a million different things, but now I actually have it in a book where I can make it at home.”
Bethesda resident Kate Miller said she suffered a concussion earlier this year and wasn’t able to do much besides watch Younger’s videos and learn how to cook.
While she hasn’t tried making Younger’s viral mac and cheese, Miller said she’s a huge fan of her cinnamon rolls and chocolate chip cookies.
“[Younger] adds toasted sesame oil to it. That’s like a huge game-changer,” Miller said. “Whenever I’m using someone else’s recipe, if she has something similar, I’ll look at hers to see what spices she’s put in. She knows flavors so well. I trust her seasoning judgment more than anyone’s.”
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Dining and Cooking