# Non-Edible Cookbooks The A La Cart Recipe Guide Uses Old Grocery Lists to Create Strange Dishes By Ady Floyd | Published 2015-10-01 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/a-la-cart References: [eater](http://www.eater.com/2015/9/24/9392633/found-grocery-lists-cookbook-a-la-cart-london) & [scoopnest](http://www.scoopnest.com/user/Eater/647115807533727745) London-based photographer Tom Lakeman created this unusual image collection that reads like a cookbook but is actually a non-edible series titled A La Cart. The series originated from the idea of creating meals out of trashed grocery lists. Since grocery lists often contain random foods and even non-edible products such as paper towels, this artist decided to create a [visual interpretation](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/looks-delicious) of these lists. The humor is quite evident in each image. For example, there is a "nine-volt battery burger" that looks like an average sandwich at first glace, but it actually contains a battery among the other ingredients. The A La Cart recipe guide is set up just like a cookbook. There is an image of the first product next to the recipe, which in this case is simply a scribbled down list of items. The unusual art project presents a unique view of a weekly choice -- grocery shopping. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.4/10 - Popularity: 69% | Activity: 84% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Non-edible Art:** Exploring the creative potential of non-edible objects in art and design. - **Humorous Food Photography:** Using humor to create visually engaging food-themed photographs. - **Unconventional Cookbooks:** Challenging traditional cookbook formats and content through innovative approaches. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Art and Design:** Opportunity to explore and showcase the artistic potential of everyday objects. - **Photography:** Identification of new approaches to food photography that capture attention through humor and creativity. - **Publishing:** Innovation in cookbook publishing by experimenting with unconventional formats and content. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [One-Star Cookbooks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/one-star-cookbook.md) - [Gross Trading Card Cookbooks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-garbage-pail-kids-cookbook.md) - [Unique Artistic Books](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/amusebouche.md) - [Culinary Comedian Cookbooks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/foodheim-a-culinary-adventure.md) - [Realistic Food Candles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pantlers-rations.md) - [Branded Pickle-Centric Cookbooks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/grillos-presents-pickled-fresh.md) - [Horror Film-Inspired Cookbooks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/death-for-dinner-cookbook.md) - [Witty Holiday Film Cookbooks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-unofficial-home-alone-cookbook.md) - [Unconventional Foodie Magazines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/food-magazine.md)