Specialites de la Maison

I don't cook but I really enjoyed this book. It's a window into the past because it is a collection of recipes from internationally famous people of the 1930's and 40's and earlier. The recipes range from simple to exotic, the writing reflects a different time period in the way the recipe is explained, and the recipes reflect the manner in which people lived and ate. Sometimes the recipe and the person who provided it seem like an odd combination -- it's part of the fun of this book. I bought a few copies to give to my friends who DO cook and each one has told me they've enjoyed the book and have made some of the recipes with plans to do more of them. Nice that this bit of history was resurrected for all of us to enjoy today. Interesting too to realize that the original genesis of this book was to raise money to help France which was already embroiled in WWII when this book came out.

What a wonderful little book! From its checkered-tablecloth binding to its manageable size (not Bible size like many cookbooks nowadays) to the galaxy of personalities who contributed recipes--Mary Pickford, Helen Keller, Laurence Olivier, Salvador Dali and on and on! Though we may no longer cook using as much butter or bacon grease as is reflected in some of the recipes, I'll still give many of these recipes a try. Who wouldn't want to serve Charlie Chaplin's "Sour Cream Hotcakes," or Cecil Beaton's "Tea Punch," or Mrs. Wendell Wilkie's "Indiana Fried Chicken!" The book first came out in 1940, fourteen years before THE ALICE B. TOKLAS COOKBOOK, but you somehow get the feeling that Alice (none of her recipes appear in this book) and all of the famous people represented here really enjoyed cooking, eating and entertaining! The perfect gift for any foodie or foodie wannabee!