An Omelette and a Glass of Wine [L0093]

1985 - HCDJ Very good condition. "Elizabeth David has the intelligence, subtlety, sensuality, courage and creative force of the true artist."-Wine and Food "The best food writer of her time."-Jane Grigson, Times Literary Supplement. An Omelette and a Glass of Wine is a culinary classic by the greatest food writer of the mid-twentieth century, and one of the greatest food writers of any era. This revered volume contains a collection of articles Elizabeth David originally wrote for magazines and newspapers such as the Spectator, Gourmet, Vogue, and the Sunday Times (London). It offers delightful explorations of food and cooking, among which are its namesake essay and other such gems as "Syllabubs and Fruit Fools," "Sweet Vegetables, Soft Wine," "Pleasing Cheeses," and "Whisky in the Kitchen." David's many admirers will cherish this edition, and readers new to her writing will marvel at her wisdom and grace. A collection of Elizabeth David's short essays discuss English cuisine, public houses, cooking techniques, antique cookbooks, restaurants, seasonings, and memories of special meals. David gained fame, respect and high status and advised many chefs and companies. She wrote articles for Vogue magazine, one of the first in the genre of food-travel.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "British author Elizabeth David belongs with Julia Child and M.F.K. Fisher as a culinary giant of her generation. Her cookbooks were not haphazard collections of recipes, but profoundly researched tomes dedicated to the purity of authentic cuisines, the ageless pleasure of good eating. An OMELETTE AND A GLASS OF WINE is, perhaps, the most personal of all her works. It is a compilation of three decades of her columns for various magazines -- but, more important, a book of her personal quest for wonderful food. The river that runs through the book is this tireless pilgrimage through cuisine of all kinds, of all ages. In it, David herself accepts nothing half-rate, no half measures. In all, the reader will be satisfied, not only with the few recipes strewn throughout, but food that has a context of wonderful people, places, and times."; "David's writing is elegant and opinionated--admonishing the British public for its reliance on tinned, ready-made food instead of the lovingly made, if not simpler food available in France and Spain. It's hard to imagine that there was a time that the rest of Europe considered Spanish cuisine the "worst in Europe;" still, the book is an interesting dip into historical and culinary tourism."; "What I enjoyed were her descriptions of English, French, Italian and Spanish towns and the outdoor markets in them, where she travelled in search of certain local dishes. She certainly knew a lot about food and wine. The essays reflect her time, social class and British sensibility. Readers will realize few gourmands eat as she describes now and restaurants have evolved very far away from the rich, meat heavy courses. Still it is an interesting read."