Celebrating the Impressionist Table [Hardcover]

Pamela Todd (Author), Louise Pickford (Author), Laurie Evans (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1997

An illuminating cookbook which explores the food and art of 19th-century France--an era ablaze with the genius of such artists as Monet, Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec, Morisot, Cezanne, Pissarro, Manet, Gauguin, and Degas--Celebrating the Impressionist Table contains 100 elegantly presented, classic recipes typical of what the artists themselves would have enjoyed. 70 color photos.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Given that so much has been written on the Impressionists and their era, this charming volume takes a different approach and explores simultaneously the art and food of 19th-century France. As an inspired culinary and cultural account of the Impressionist era, this fun and fascinating tour through Normandy, Brittany, Provence, Fontainebleau, and Paris features an entertaining text on the artworks and lifestyles of its most famous painters--Monet, Toulouse-Lautrec, Morisot, Cézanne, Manet, Guaguin, and Degas, among many others. There are also 100 recipes for regional fare, emphasizing the notion that great art, like great food, should be savored. The delectable combination of food and art stimulates the senses in a surprising way, more genuinely evoking what it was like to be alive at the time of the Impressionists than any critical study I've read.

From Booklist

Journalist Todd scrutinizes the art and fares of the impressionists, from Brazille to Sisley. Here, the human (and occasionally, humane) side of these masters stands out; for instance, Monet was an inveterate gadget guru who owned a state-of-the-art, hand-cranked ice cream machine. Gauguin was an admirable cook, though his fight with van Gogh precipitated the infamous left ear mutilation. And Renoir preferred brie only from Paris. Not as worthwhile (but nonetheless instructive) are the 100 accompanying recipes, all in the classic French tradition of high-fat cooking with butter, cream, flour, and sugar; few are streamlined for today's kitchens or stomachs. Besides, who would dare drip a spoonful of aioli on Monet's The Picnic? Barbara Jacobs

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Stewart Tabori & Chang (April 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155670481X
• ISBN-13: 978-1556704819
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 9.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,949,964 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars if you love french cooking and impressionism...., August 21, 1999

By 

Beverly Campbell (chicago, illinois USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Celebrating the Impressionist Table (Hardcover)

if you love french cooking and impressionism, this is your book. it's one of my favorite cook books in my collection. a word of caution, the ingredigents used in some of the recipes may not be found in all areas of north america. i brought my copying several years ago while i lived in toronto, so i didn't have too much difficulty finding ingredients. in sum,the cook provides a wonderful artistic cullinary journey. the book still can be found bookstores. i found few a few copies at borders six or seven months ago on the discount table. the book is well worth searching for!!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Um. . ., May 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Celebrating the Impressionist Table (Hardcover)

Um. . . I know this book is not out of print cause a friend of mine bought it a few weeks ago and I just ordered it from Barnes and Noble, since they have it. It is available! I guess you just have to find a company with a more complete stock!! This is an awesome book and I would highly recommend it.