Cooking for Madam: Recipes and Reminiscences from the Home of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

This book is one of the best books you could ever hope to own if you are an admirer of the late Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. A whole new perception of Mrs Onassis emerges after reading the truly uniqe perspective that Marta had while living with and working for Mrs. Onassis. The fact that it was a book endorsed and even encouraged by John Kennedy Jr and his sister Caroline makes it a trasure in any Jackie Onassis collection. The never before seen private photos of Mrs. Onassis and views of the inside of her homes on Martha's Vineyard and 1040 5th Avenue is alone worth the price of the book. First hand accounts of Mrs. Onassis' daily life and special occasions told with such personal memory makes it a must have for all that admired Mrs. Onassis from afar. We will never get to meet her, but reading this book and looking upon the exclusive photos will help the reader feel a bit closer to the beauty and complex personality that was Jackie. Please feel free to email me if you are a Jackie Onassis fan. Id love to hear from you.

The recipes are simple, elegant, and easy to execute. The book is made up of ordinary recipes executed with a special know-how (example...the scrambled eggs, the dill flavored pita-bred, the berry pudding, the baked potatos stuffed with poached eggs, etc.) that make this a very good cookbook. The author's memories and personal photos make it a moving memoir. I was impressed.

The recipes are wonderful and easy to follow and the vignettes are lovely. It is refreshing to see a book written about Jackie and her family from one who truly loves and rrespects them.

This is a wonderful book!! Marta tells us life in Jackie's home and it makes us see her life in a real sense. Away from the media spin, we see a good life much more normal, with great food. Marta's recipes are wonderful! The flavors combine to make such wonderful food! AND they are not too complicated that they are not do-able. They are easy and well written to make in our kitchens! Marta is wonderful!! Thank You!! I hope we can have a vol. 2 someday!!

This book is a delight for the loyal Jackie-ite, as well as for those that don't follow her. Marta Sgubin, long-time housekeeper at 1040 (Mrs. Onassis' Fifth Avenue address) writes a warm book full of antecdotes, recipes and great snapshots. Pictures of Jackie on Christmas morning or of John Jr strumming his guitar or Caroline blowing out candles on her birthday cake, make you feel like you were there. What is especially intriguing is that this book was sanctioned by Mrs. Onassis' two children, with John even writing the foreward. Obviously they want this more personal side of their very private mother to be known by the general public. Now, if only Nancy Tuckerman would write her memoirs (are you listening Tucky?), the ordinary side of an ordinary woman who happened to have lived an extraordinary life will be almost complete.