Owners of popular Charleston cafes, The Harbinger and Harken, just announced the release of their first-ever cookbook, available now for pre-sale, officially launching on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Packed with more than 40 of the cafes’ beloved recipes, each inclusion will bring unique and special flavors to home kitchens nationwide.
Woven throughout are tales from co-owner and head chef, Greer Gilchrist, as she dives into the ideas behind each dish and the ingredients that bring it all to life. Priced at $33, the cookbook will be available for purchase in the cafes, The Harbinger and Harken websites, Amazon, and in select Charleston bookstores.
“These are the recipes that have built The Harbinger and Harken and nourished our communities for years now,” says Gilchrist. “I am honored to have written it for those who have been asking for it. My hope is that these recipes become as beloved to readers as they are to me—finding their way into family dinners, celebrations, and everyday moments. This cookbook is a way to relive our favorites and bring a piece of our bakeries home.”
This debut cookbook features The Harbinger and Harken’s signature dishes, from vibrant salads to melt-in-your-mouth cookies, sandwiches, bars and more. Beyond the dishes themselves, Gilchrist shares her story, weaving in personal anecdotes told in her signature zesty voice, offering readers a deeper connection to her creative culinary vision. Chapters are anchored by the cafés' iconic cookies, and unfold into a mix of savory and sweet recipes. Gilchrist’s knack for blending unexpected ingredients shines through as readers discover seasonal flavors thoughtfully combined to create unforgettable dishes that reflect the connection between food and memory.
Since opening The Harbinger Café and Bakery in 2017 in Charleston’s North Central neighborhood, Gilchrist and co-owner, Cameron Neal, have delighted locals with inventive pastries and a welcoming atmosphere. The pair expanded just two years later, opening Harken Café & Bakery in 2019, nestled in Charleston’s historic French Quarter, surrounded by cobblestone streets and old-world charm. Much like the thoughtfully curated experience at the cafes—where every detail is intentional—this cookbook is a celebration of food’s ability to foster connection and community while eating well.
The cookbook will be available online and in-store. To celebrate its release, a special weekend event will take place just ahead of Mother's Day weekend, where the public is invited to come out and experience the flavors of The Harbinger and Harken firsthand.
For more information about The Harbinger and Harken, and to purchase the cookbook, visit theharbingercafe.com/cookbook or harkencafe.com/cookbook.
