$9.99 with 44 percent savings
Digital List Price: $17.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.
Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Spécialités de la Maison Kindle Edition

by The American Friends of France (Author), Graydon Carter (Foreword) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 18 ratings
See all formats and editions

A certain widely-travelled New Yorker, a gourmet who sometimes prepares his own dishes, was recently asked his opinion of Spécialités de la Maison, issued by the American Friends of France.

His reply: "I enjoyed it tremendously because it is a sort of travelogue of cuisine compounded by a number of gay and intelligent people who have made their mark in the world, and who evidently have a wholesome respect for the pleasures of the table. To me it is valuable for those dread moments when the stove looks cold and uncooperative, the muse of inspiration is mute, and the guests are determined to arrive at a quarter before eight."—from Spécialités de la Maison, 1949 edition

First published in 1940, Spécialités de la Maison presents a diverse collection of recipes by Hollywood and Broadway celebrities, renowned socialites, noteworthy writers, members of the royalty, famous couturiers, and restaurateurs. With original illustrations by Clement Hurd, Alajalov, and Jean Pagès, and a new foreword by Graydon Carter, editor of Vanity Fair, this charming facsimile edition is an enlightening and entertaining illustration of what the wealthy and famous cooked when eating en famille. The busy host or hostess will appreciate that the recipes are easy, short, no-fuss, and truly fun to make—not to mention tasty conversation starters.

Bon appétit!

Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    282 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Harper
  4. Publication date
    March 27, 2010
  5. File size
    2.9 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
Next slide of product details

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

A certain widely-travelled New Yorker, a gourmet who sometimes prepares his own dishes, was recently asked his opinion of Spécialités de la Maison, issued by the American Friends of France.

His reply: "I enjoyed it tremendously because it is a sort of travelogue of cuisine compounded by a number of gay and intelligent people who have made their mark in the world, and who evidently have a wholesome respect for the pleasures of the table. To me it is valuable for those dread moments when the stove looks cold and uncooperative, the muse of inspiration is mute, and the guests are determined to arrive at a quarter before eight."—from Spécialités de la Maison, 1949 edition

First published in 1940, Spécialités de la Maison presents a diverse collection of recipes by Hollywood and Broadway celebrities, renowned socialites, noteworthy writers, members of the royalty, famous couturiers, and restaurateurs. With original illustrations by Clement Hurd, Alajalov, and Jean Pagès, and a new foreword by Graydon Carter, editor of Vanity Fair, this charming facsimile edition is an enlightening and entertaining illustration of what the wealthy and famous cooked when eating en famille. The busy host or hostess will appreciate that the recipes are easy, short, no-fuss, and truly fun to make—not to mention tasty conversation starters.

Bon appétit!

About the Author

Christine Schwartz Hartley is a writer specializing in architecture and design and has translated numerous works from French to English, including Alain Mabanckou's cult novel, African Psycho. She has also reviewed books for Book Forum, the New York Times Book Review, and the Village Voice. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B003E6M6YU
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper (March 27, 2010)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 27, 2010
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.9 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 282 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 18 ratings

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
18 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers enjoy the book and find it a fun read. They appreciate the collection of recipes from internationally famous people from the 1930s and 1940s, with nice stories about the dish or who submitted it.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

ReadabilityRecipes
4 customers mention "Readability"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and enjoyable, even for non-cooks.

"I don't cook but I really enjoyed this book...." Read more

"What a wonderful little book!..." Read more

"This is a fun read, but if you were thinking of actually MAKING any of this, prepare to find another cookbook...." Read more

"This book is such a treasure... if you are a foodie, this is a must have. "..." Read more

3 customers mention "Recipes"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the recipes from famous people in the 1930s and 1940s. They appreciate the stories about the dishes and those who submitted them.

"...The recipes range from simple to exotic, the writing reflects a different time period in the way the recipe is explained, and the recipes reflect..." Read more

"...to the galaxy of personalities who contributed recipes--Mary Pickford, Helen Keller, Laurence Olivier,..." Read more

"...Nice little stories about the dish or who submitted the dish. Even if you don't make any of the dishes it is a great slice of a different time." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Lyric
    5.0 out of 5 stars Specialites from some very special people
    Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    I don't cook but I really enjoyed this book. It's a window into the past because it is a collection of recipes from internationally famous people of the 1930's and 40's and earlier.
    The recipes range from simple to exotic, the writing reflects a different time period in the way the recipe is explained, and the recipes reflect the manner in which people lived and ate. Sometimes the recipe and the person who provided it seem like an odd combination -- it's part of the fun of this book.

    I bought a few copies to give to my friends who DO cook and each one has told me they've enjoyed the book and have made some of the recipes with plans to do more of them.

    Nice that this bit of history was resurrected for all of us to enjoy today. Interesting too to realize that the original genesis of this book was to raise money to help France which was already embroiled in WWII when this book came out.
    7 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Paris fan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Eat, Drink, Be Mary or Helen or Laurence or Salvador or...
    Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    What a wonderful little book! From its checkered-tablecloth binding to its manageable size (not Bible size like many cookbooks nowadays) to the galaxy of personalities who contributed recipes--Mary Pickford, Helen Keller, Laurence Olivier, Salvador Dali and on and on!

    Though we may no longer cook using as much butter or bacon grease as is reflected in some of the recipes, I'll still give many of these recipes a try. Who wouldn't want to serve Charlie Chaplin's "Sour Cream Hotcakes," or Cecil Beaton's "Tea Punch," or Mrs. Wendell Wilkie's "Indiana Fried Chicken!" The book first came out in 1940, fourteen years before THE ALICE B. TOKLAS COOKBOOK, but you somehow get the feeling that Alice (none of her recipes appear in this book) and all of the famous people represented here really enjoyed cooking, eating and entertaining!

    The perfect gift for any foodie or foodie wannabee!
    18 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Lovestoast!
    3.0 out of 5 stars Was expecting a bit more...
    Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This is a fun read, but if you were thinking of actually MAKING any of this, prepare to find another cookbook. As a bit of history and a name-dropper tome, this is it...just don't plan to wow your friends with any of these recipes. Unless, of course, your friends are really into items cooked in lard and containing a gazillion calories. As I was hoping to resurrect some old French-influenced recipes I was disappointed. You might not be. A chacun son gout!
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Vicki Z.
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fun look at a time when dinner parties were elaborate ...
    Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    A fun look at a time when dinner parties were elaborate and people ate things that you don't find much of anymore!! Nice little stories about the dish or who submitted the dish. Even if you don't make any of the dishes it is a great slice of a different time.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Angela
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Treasure
    Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    This book is such a treasure... if you are a foodie, this is a must have.
    "There's also a select bibliography of contributors--from Katharine Hepburn and Christian Dior to Eleanor Roosevelt and Charlie Chaplin--created especially for today's reader."
    Helpful
     Report
  • Amy H.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Classic
    Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This cookbook is mentioned in the latest Louise Penny novel, A Better Man. Can’t wait to sit down with a cup of tea to look in it!
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Karen A. Brandes
    3.0 out of 5 stars recipe book
    Reviewed in Canada on August 17, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Cute recipes for the olden days when butter and cheese were eaten by the pound. /fun to read and nice to discuss with friends.
    Report
  • michael vink
    3.0 out of 5 stars nostalgie
    Reviewed in France on October 31, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    En ce temps là les milliardaires savaient encore vivre et concoctaient des concours de cuisine dont ils s'échangeaient les recettes. Ce petit livre révèle les goûts et tours de main d'un univers insouciant qui a disparu dans les fracas du blingbling.
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report