French Cookery
COMPRISING L'ART DE LA CUISINE FRANCAISE; LE PATISSIER ROYAL; LE CUISINIER PARISIEN. BY THE LATE M. CAREME, SOME TIME CHEF OF THE KITCHEN OF HIS MAJESTY GEORGE IV., TRANSLATED BY WILLIAM HALL, COOK TO T. P. WILLIAMS, ESQ., M.P., AND CONDUCTOR OF THE PARLIAMENTARY DINNERS OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD VISCOUNT CANTERBURY, G. C. B., LATE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. WITH SEVENTY-THREE PLATES ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE ART. LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. MDCCCXXXVI.
FIRST EDITION - 1836. 8vo. Title Page. 3pp 'Advertisements' (i-xliv) (1-422) [1] including 73 lithographed folding plates illustrating elaborate dishes. Fully bound in modern black calf with blind tooling on boards. Spine with raised bands, blind tooling, 2 Bottle green labels with gilt lettering, gilt lines with gilt dots. Internally almost new, however some very slight foxing to the title page. There is at least one other edition dated 1856.
- This English translation of three of Careme's major books is very rare, especially a nice clean complete copy like this one. Careme became, because of his brilliance as a Patissier and mastering all other departments in the large Kitchens, the epoch changing force and most important influence on European cookery of the time. This was partly due to the writing of his seminal works, cooking for 12 years for the great gourmand - Talleyrand , serving also, such Royal personages as George IV of England and Alexander I of Russia. His writing stands above all others of that era, in part, due to the monumental aspect of the plates of 'Pieces Montees' and the amount of details of quality in the recipes. The mind is staggered, in these modern days of electrical appliances, processors, refridgeration, hi-tech H&S, controlled storage and distribution systems etc just how Careme produced, day after day, the Grand Buffets for the great houses. The coal fumes, heat and punishing hours took their toll, and Careme, worn out, died at 48 years of age, leaving behind a legacy that is still admired and being written about today.
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Antiquarian category
ref number:
10952