Four years, an unreasonable amount of money spent, and many spontaneous trips to NOLA (AKA the best place ever if you're new here) later and I guess you could say my little collection of vintage Cookbooks has grown.
I remember exactly what I bought with it- a "Silipat" baking sheet, 2 tins of edible pearls and glitter, which I still have today, tucked away in our baking supplies (wow- just now realizing I probably need to throw those out), and Mastering the Art of French Cooking inspired by my then-recent obsession with Julie & Julia.
It was a proud moment for me, with it being my first "real" cookbook. Besides, I was over the whole Pink Princess Cookbook thing, anyways!
And that is how it all started...
Most of my cookbooks have come from my favorite cookbook shop, in well, you know where.
Kitchen Witch
So, I could go on in detail about how I've accumulated all of my cookbooks, but I think I'll just let them speak for themselves.
Get ready, there are a lot of pictures...
My first after MAFC; a random lady at a restaurant in New Orleans and I were talking about cooking, she ran home, came back and handed me this and a poster of Leah Chase (Dooky Chase's Restaurant), and then walked away. She's probably the reason why I love New Orleans so much, and the reason for me writing about this.
Brennan's New Orleans Cookbook
Herman B. Deutsch
1964
Later that week, I found Kitchen Witch and bought my first vintage cookbook.
Of course when I saw it, I knew I had to get it.
The Nashville Cookbook
Nashville Area Home Economics Association
1977
The Nashville Cookbook
Nashville Area Home Economics Association
1977
One month later, my parents surprised me with this for my birthday.
The Art of Creole Cookery
William I. Kaufman
1962
The Art of Creole Cookery
William I. Kaufman
1962
On our next trip to NOLA, I went back to my Favorite Cookbook store, made friends with the owner, and bought a couple more cookbooks. It was starting to become a tradition. Plus, how could I not! It's all Julia Child (Meryl Streep) talked about in Julie and Julia.
Joy of Cooking
Irma S. Rombauer, Marion R. Becker, Ethan Becker
1975
Joy of Cooking
Irma S. Rombauer, Marion R. Becker, Ethan Becker
1975
Including this one...
Burnt Toast
1942
Burnt Toast
1942
Christmas 2014 came around, which means more cookbooks. This one is SO cute!
Let's Celebrate!
Jani Gardner
1969
Let's Celebrate!
Jani Gardner
1969
These are more of books about cooking. My mom pulled French Woman Don't Get Fat out of our linen closet, and I bought Provence 1970 at Kitchen Witch on another trip to Nola.
French Women Don't Get Fat; Mireille Guiliano; 2005
Provence 1970; Luke Barr; 2013
French Women Don't Get Fat; Mireille Guiliano; 2005
Provence 1970; Luke Barr; 2013
I also bought this one on the same trip...
James Beard Cookbook
James Beard
1962
James Beard Cookbook
James Beard
1962
These are more of books about cooking, but Letters to a Young Chef is my all-time favorite book! This was actually my first book I bought at Kitchen Witch, along with Nashville And Eat Pretty is such an inspiring book on health and nutrition.
Eat Pretty; Jolene Hart; 2014
Eat Pretty; Jolene Hart; 2014
Letters to a Young Chef; Daniel Boulud; 2003
On my last trip to Kitchen Witch, I picked up this book, mainly because the owner talked me into it, claiming "I couldn't call myself a 'chef' without it." But also because it had little writer notes inside, which always gets me.
The Silver Palate
Julie Rosso, Sheila Lukins, Michael McLaughlin
1982
The Silver Palate
Julie Rosso, Sheila Lukins, Michael McLaughlin
1982
I bought this one on vintagecookbooks.com in the new year.
It's a little old fashioned but so informing- it touches base on all produce to all meat, their season, complementing flavors, and how to properly cook it.
Modern Encyclopedia of Cooking
Meta Given
1953
Modern Encyclopedia of Cooking
Meta Given
1953
The rest aren't vintage, but just random cookbooks I've received over the years.
There's really no story behind this one, except that my mom randomly gave it to me one day...
As the Spur Stirs
Jacqueline Calendar
2015
As the Spur Stirs
Jacqueline Calendar
2015
So, I didn't really receive the Giada one... I may have stolen it from my mom's collection in the kitchen.
Giada's Kitchen; Giada De Laurentiis; 2008
Make It Happen; Barefoot Contessa; 2014
Southern Comfort; Allison Vines-Rushing & Slade Rushing; 2012
Giada's Kitchen; Giada De Laurentiis; 2008
Make It Happen; Barefoot Contessa; 2014
Southern Comfort; Allison Vines-Rushing & Slade Rushing; 2012
Okay, so I have one the best, best friends ever. Why? Along with cutting boards and other fun kitchen tools, she gave me this for my birthday.
It's so southern and cute! Filled with different menus, grocery lists, and table set ups for different events.
The Gathering of Friends
Michelle Huxtable & Abby Jane Green
2012
The Gathering of Friends
Michelle Huxtable & Abby Jane Green
2012
My most recent gift, with tons, and I mean TONS, of the best restaurants all over the world.
Where Chefs Eat
Joe Warwick
2015
Where Chefs Eat
Joe Warwick
2015
And finally, the book that started it all...
Mastering the Art of French Cooking
Julia Child
2001
Xoxo
-Cecilia A.
