Bohemian San Francisco: A 1914 Culinary Classic with Sixty-Three Rare Recipes [B2123]

1973 PB reprint of the 1914 original, with minor wear. What made 1914 San Francisco so charming, such a 'Mecca for lovers of gustatory delights' was the astonishing array of people from so many cultures, each with their own distinctive neighborhoods arranged side by side up and down the steep hillsides of the city. The ethnic neighborhoods transformed a stroll through the streets of San Francisco into a magic carpet ride around the world. Bohemian San Francisco evokes the vibrant culinary and social spirit of a city where eclectic gatherings flourish in intimate restaurants filled with immigrant traditions, artistic revelry, and epicurean delight. The book presents lively scenes of urban neighborhoods alive with charm, energy, and cosmopolitan flair, as circles of friends and artists celebrate connection through memorable meals. Tables are filled with terrines, delicate seafood, ragouts, and wine rituals shared in camaraderie. Restaurateurs prepare feasts, multicourse dinners, and special presentations that transform dining into an art of hospitality. Intimate cabarets and salons host performers, storytellers, and musicians, inspiring laughter, toasts, and bonds that cross social boundaries. Recipes and culinary sketches preserve favorite dishes from soups and sautés to elegant desserts, emphasizing gracious service and a philosophy of conviviality. Nostalgic vignettes capture a golden era where food, culture, and creativity blend into an enduring legacy of community and memory.

From Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Wow! This was a gem of a find. Not only does this publication from 1914 include comments on Frisco restaurants, it touches upon the Bohemian life, entertaining, and a few recipes. This was a delight to read and I was engrossed throughout every page."; "A history of San Francisco through food from a medical doctor and a gastronome, bon vivant, romantic, historian. Recipes are scattered all through the text. Many of them are recipes offered to Edwords by various chefs as the best dishes served in their restaurants. While most of these recipes lack the detail one finds in modern cookbooks, an experienced cook would probably have little trouble adapting them to the modern kitchen."; "Fantastic book about San Francisco cuisine with vivid descriptions of produce markets and wistful memories of pre-1906-fire restaurants. There's an odd exposition of what "bohemian" really means. And lots of recipes."