God Is a Pickle explores food preservation through the Czech Republic—one of the world’s most secular nations, where pickling became a symbolic “faith.” With 100+ recipes for pickles and preserves plus seasonal dishes that use them, it shows how a local tradition reflects a universal need for resilience, seasonality, and ritual.
Blending stories, history, and photography, the book offers practical inspiration for the kitchen and a reflection on how simple, time-honored practices continue to shape identity everywhere. Editors: gestalten & Šárka Otevřel Camrdová, Marek Bartoš

Release date: February 2026
Format: 21 × 26 cm
Features: Full colour, hardcover, stitch-bound, 272 pages
ISBN: 978-3-96704-209-2

Recipes and Stories for Preserving the Seasons – A Culinary Journey Through the Czech Republic

From Czech kitchens to global tables: preserving as a ritual of memory, resilience, and identity.

Šárka Otevřel Camrdová is a Prague-born food writer and editor based in New York, with over a decade in publishing (Elle, Herbarium). Her work explores food and culture.
Marek Bartoš is a Prague-based photographer and founder of Snack & Friends, working with chefs and publishers to tell visual food stories. "Not just a book about pickles and jams, but also an attempt to show that seemingly ordinary skills can carry a powerful cultural message."
Forbes Czech