Good Things to Eat, As Suggested by Rufus: A Collection of Practical Recipes for Preparing Meats, Game, Fowl, Fish, Puddings, Pastries, Etc.

Rare cookbook from 1911 --- the first written by a Black chef --- republished with 52 "new" photographs, illustrations, and advertisements from the 1800s and early 1900s. Includes the author's comments on what it was like to be a little boy during the Civil War. Includes 21 chapters and 591 recipes . . . for haute cuisine as well as family-style meals, some southern and Creole dishes. Roasted canvas-back duck, Virginia stew, blackberry vinegar, cakes, pies, cookies, omelettes.

The author was born a slave, but became one of Chicago's finest chefs. He worked his way up from Pullman Private Car attendant, where he served President Cleveland, President Harrison, Sir Stanley the African Explorer, as well as the most famous actors, musicians, and celebrities of his day. Eventually he worked for business tycoon John "Bet-A-Million" Gates and became chef at U.S. Steel.