An Omelette and a Glass of Wine - Hardcover

David, Elizabeth

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1405918314 ISBN 13: 9781405918312

Publisher: Michael Joseph, 2014

Synopsis

A classic in its genre, An Omelette and a Glass of Wine compiles Elizabeth David's short pieces on food and wine. A bestseller when it was first published in 1984, much of David's finest writing featured in magazines and newspapers such as the Spectator, the Sunday Times and Harper's, and these pieces contain tantalizing glimpses of her very private life. An Omelette and a Glass of Wine is an exquisite collection that demonstrates the talent that made Elizabeth David the most celebrated food writer of her time. 'She has the intelligence, subtlety, sensuality, courage and creative force of the true artist' - Wine and Food Elizabeth David rejuvenated the British attitude towards home cookery and is still considered to be one of the greatest food writers ever. She wrote extensively on food and wine and her enthusiasm for European cooking encouraged a revolution of the British culinary scene. Her books have remained influential since her death in 1992. This final compilation has been put together by her literary executor, Jill Norman.

About this title

Review

An Omelette and a Glass of Wine, by Elizabeth David, is one of the first books that the Lyons Press (formerly Lyons and Burford) published as part of the Cook's Classic Library series. It offers 62 articles written by David between 1955 and 1984 for a variety of publications. Many of these pieces, such as "I'll Be with You in the Squeezing of a Lemon," from 1969--about cooking with lemons--barely show their age. But even if they did, you wouldn't care, because of the rich store of information that David shares and the literary grace with which she imparts it.

"Foods of Legend" is a choice example. This essay is astonishingly timely in its discourse on a chef feeling compelled to elevate a humble country dish into haute cuisine. David bases her story on Master Chef August Escoffier's recomposition, over a century ago, of a Provençal favorite: potatoes baked with artichokes onto Carré d'Agneau Mistral, which involved adding truffles and rack of lamb.

Some articles include recipes, but for the most part this is a volume nicely sized to curl up with or to take on a trip.

From the Back Cover

An Omelette and a Glass of Wine, a collection of articles originally written for The Spectator, Gourmet magazine, Vogue, and The (London) Sunday Times, among others, is the penultimate book by Elizabeth David. This revered classic volume contains delightful explorations of food and cooking, among which are the collection's namesake essay and other such gems as "Syllabubs and Fruit Fools," "Sweet Vegetables, Soft Wine," "Pleasing Cheeses," and "Whisky in the Kitchen." Her many admirers will cherish this new edition, and readers coming to know Ms. David for the first time will marvel at her wisdom and grace. (6 X 9, 320 pages, b&w photos, illustrations)

Edition details

• Publisher: Michael Joseph
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1405918314
• ISBN 13: 9781405918312
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 320