Local cookbook author, newspaper columnist and cooking instructor, Mary Ellen Carter, is one of Bellingham's best-known food enthusiasts and a strong advocate of returning to the table to enjoy good food, by helping to establish the local convivium of Slow Food, a worldwide organization committed to preserving food and culture based on the values of community and sustainability.

A former restaurant owner, Mary Ellen Carter has authored four cookbooks, including the local bestseller "At Joe's Garden, Harvest Recipes from the Northwest." Her latest cookbook "Accent on Asia - Recipes for a Culinary Adventure," reflects many years of teaching with a focus on Asian cooking.