When I worked at Gourmet Magazine in New York, I had the pleasure of sitting right in the magazine's wonderful library. I loved this library. The carpet was thick, and the walls were lined with thousands of cookbooks. Of course, many of the books were fresh off the press. Others were published long long ago. Much to my delight, my desk sat right in the middle of it all!
As much as I loved this library, there was also a very very small library upstairs. I was often charged with the task of keeping this library tidy and preventing it from becoming just another storage closet. As a result, I rolled up my sleeves and checked this library often. While doing so, I jettisoned the audio visual equipment into the hallway and then found myself pulling many of the wonderful vintage cookbooks off the shelves. I absolutely adored these turn of the century cookbooks and cherished the wonderful pictures in each one. There were jelly molds and tea sandwiches. There were ornate cakes and massive roasts.There were sensible tips and diagrams on how to set up a buffet table. The books often reflected the excitement of new inventions such as Crisco and baking powder. Many were published by corporations, and the recipes were created by home economists.
I can't recall exactly which books had the biggest impact on me, but my work in that "secret little library" set me on a path for life. I now hunt down and collect vintage cookbooks. I don't go to auctions and bid on specialty cookbooks. I just ferret around at estate sales, garage sales, and used book sales. I have found many treasures over the years, and one of my most recent purchases is shown in this photo. I nailed it at a garage sale this summer. I love it for its simplicity and for its timeless role in America's culinary culture. It isn't just a cookbook, it is a primary document that reflects a culinary moment in time.
Do you have any wonderful vintage cookbooks?
Photo by Melissa A. Trainer
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