For Lori Castellon, Halloween isn’t just a holiday. It’s a way of life. The Los Angeles–based creator behind Ghoul at Heart has built a culinary world that celebrates all things spooky and mysterious. Her new cookbook, Scare-Cuterie, brings that spirit to the table with Halloween-inspired boards, bites, and creative recipes that bring a bit of fright to every feast.
Castellon’s journey began years ago in her kitchen when her children were in elementary school. While home with them, she started Castellon’s Kitchen, a blog that shared family-friendly recipes from her life as a mom. But when the world slowed down during COVID, Lori found herself drawn back to her favorite time of year: Halloween. “It was the only thing that felt creative and fun to make,” she says. With her husband’s encouragement, she launched Ghoul at Heart in 2020, giving her Halloween obsession a platform of its own.
A biochemistry major by training, Castellon approaches cooking like a scientist. “I see it as a chemistry problem to solve,” she explains. Her mad scientist and vampire themes give her dishes a clear identity: spooky yet sophisticated, with a sense of purpose and play.
Photo: Michael Farmer
In Scare-Cuterie, her creativity takes center stage. The book is organized into five chapters, each with its own flavor of fright. “Dawn of the Bread” starts things off with breakfast boards and baked goods. “Creepy Cravings” features snackable bites like deviled eggs and veggie boards. “Spooky Centerpieces” offers classic meat-and-cheese charcuterie spreads, while “Ghoulish Grazing” focuses on performance-style dishes like her fan-favorite, “Baked Zombrie,” a puff pastry–wrapped brie that oozes strawberry-balsamic blood. “Devilish Delights” ends the book on a sweet note with desserts and drinks. She also included a section for vegan and meatless options.
One of Castellon’s favorite recipes from the book is her Grim Reaper Butter and Bones. “I made five compound butters–some sweet, some savory–and molded them into little skulls,” she says. “It’s definitely a performance dish and perfect for any gathering.”
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Although Halloween is at the heart of her creations, her inspiration comes from everywhere, including other holidays, antique shops, and even thrift stores. “Once, I found a crimson curtain panel that was the perfect shade of blood red, and that inspired an entire vampire theme,” she explains. “I like giving myself parameters; it makes the creative process a puzzle.”
That creativity is what fuels her. “I’m happiest when I have a project,” she says. “The book gave me deadlines, which kept me focused. It was a marathon of creativity.” Her husband serves as her taste tester and honest critic, while her followers online keep her motivated to push creative boundaries.
Scare-Cuterie is available wherever books are sold, including Amazon, Target, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop.org. Castellon is celebrating with book signings this fall, from the Mystic Museum to a cemetery tour event. As for what’s next, she plans to revamp her YouTube channel with full tutorials and more tablescapes. “People love the step-by-step visuals,” she says. “I want to keep growing that side because spooky food deserves the spotlight all year long!”
AUTHOR
Nicolette Degrassi is a Boston based food and travel blogger. When she's not traveling the world, you can find her reading the latest Book of the Month novel or trying to perfect her sticky toffee pudding recipe. Follow her adventures on Instagram @nadegrassi.
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