BuchGourmet (1987-2013) was an independent bookstore in Cologne, Germany, and during this time the oldest and biggest bookstore in Germany that focused solely on culinary media. The owner, Dieter Eckel, opened a 45 square meter store in 1987 after being inspired by a "tiny" cookbook store in Amsterdam. After a one-third expansion in 2009, the business occupied 120 square meters on Hohenzollernring with five employees. It was Germany's oldest and largest purely cooking book retailer. Eckel was one of the founders of the International Association of Cookbook Stores.