Book launches are rarely about the food. However, at the May 29 launch party for the new 25th anniversary edition of the much-loved The Silver Palate Cookbook (Workman Publishing/Thomas Allen & Son) at Toronto’s Bistro 990, partygoers were so busy eating, they occasionally forgot about the open bar.

The Cookbook Store’s Alison Fryer (standing) tells a story about reluctantly agreeing to order 5 copies of the first edition of The Silver Palate, only to have them sell out within days. “I order 7 now,” she joked. Seated are (from left) Thomas Allen president and CEO Jim Allen with the book’s authors, Sheila Lukins and Julee Rosso.

Bistro 990 general manager Fernando Temudo brings out the traditional Dufflets “book cover” cake to mark the occasion.

The cake gets cut.

Thomas Allen publicity director Lisa Zaritzky stops to smile with Jim Allen.

BookTV’s Kim Clarke Champniss gives the grub the thumbs up, while Bravo! arts producer Bernard Gauthier gives a grin.

Doug Knight, president of St. Joseph Media (which owns Q&Q), talks turkey with Rosso and Lukins.