Brooki Bakehouse vs Recipe Tin Eats: Neglect fuels full-blown crisis
On Tuesday, Nagi Maehashi of Recipe Tin Eats accused Brooke Bellamy of Brooki Bakehouse of plagiarising recipes in her book, Bake With Brooki, published by Penguin. The book has sold close to 100,000 copies, and Maehashi claims Penguin dismissed her claims. Now she has lawyered up, and gone public.
PR crisis expert Sally Branson examines how the whole mess could have been avoided.
Like much of my own baking, the Recipe Tin Eats vs Brooki Bakehouse reputation issue could have been better managed with careful timing and attention. So now, all cooking puns intended, we watch to see if a half-baked strategy is enough to remedy a reputation.
With the tale of two self-made social media bakers, Nagi Maehashi of Recipe Tin Eats and Brooke Bellamy of Brooki Bakehouse, making headlines, this situation exemplifies how unresolved issues can escalate into reputation-damaging crises. The first thought that crossed my mind is ‘how did it get this far?’
Both bakers have carved out significant niches in the culinary world, appealing to overlapping yet distinct demographics with loyal followings. Maehashi has been a catalyst in transforming household cooking with her accessible and reliable recipes, while Bellamy has built a strong brand presence and a bit of a cult following with her bakery and cookbook. Full disclosure: this crisis manager cannot cook a thing without first Googling “Nagi apricot chicken.”
Well I guess my 90yo Nans caramel slice recipe was plagiarised?
She was baking it well before these two were born!
I’m a Nagi fan as much as anyone but the caramel slice recipe is identical to the Women’s Weekly recipe from decades ago.
Not sure who is plagiarising who here.
Evidently Maehashi hasn’t done her homework. If she googled the recipes in question she’d likely find endless sources of the recipes in question online, all close to hers, all likely pre-dating hers. This is a clear play to undermine her competition but throwing allegations and scrutiny on them to elevate herself. I wonder how she’d feel if anyone out there.who had recipes close to hers that pre-dated hers stepped forward to sue her? Better yet, wait till.she had a new born baby, then sue her, like she did to Brooki. Notice Maehashi doesnt say “identical”, merely “close to her recupe”. Every Turkish born person who has made baklava should then sue her. Additionally, evidently AI searches for recipes and Brooki’s previous success doesn’t factor in. This is a farce at its finest. Maehashi should not only be ashamed, but should realise this will end badly for her if she pursues this.