Customer Reviews

Cooking for Madam: Recipes and Reminiscences from the Home of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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I plan to pick up several copies of this book to give out as gifts... at first I was turned off by an apparent "insider" book by someone trying to capitalize off the fame of a celebrity... I looked further when I realized the book had actually been endorsed by the Kennedy family themselves. I read and collect recipes as a hobby - I started looking at the recipes and thought, hey, these are really good. Since bringing the book home I find myself taken in by the warm personal style... I usually don't like cookbooks that surround the recipes with a lot of chat... this book is a one-of-a-kind for me...and I find myself enjoying the narration as much as the recipes. I am glad to see so many readers feel the same. After reading the professional and customer reviews, I'm convinced that I will be buying several more copies for friends who will enjoy the book as much as I do.

Delightful book with delicious recipes. The Summer Pasta Salad and the Brownie recipes are out of this world! This book not only contains delicious recipes, but it also allows the reader into the lives of Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis and her children, letting you see a side of them through the photograhps in this book, that has rarely been seen in the past. It is a reminder that the members of this close family are ordinary people, rich in their tradtions. A very enjoyable book and great to give as gifts to other cooks in your life.

This book is one of the best books you could ever hope to own if you are an admirer of the late Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. A whole new perception of Mrs Onassis emerges after reading the truly uniqe perspective that Marta had while living with and working for Mrs. Onassis. The fact that it was a book endorsed and even encouraged by John Kennedy Jr and his sister Caroline makes it a trasure in any Jackie Onassis collection. The never before seen private photos of Mrs. Onassis and views of the inside of her homes on Martha's Vineyard and 1040 5th Avenue is alone worth the price of the book. First hand accounts of Mrs. Onassis' daily life and special occasions told with such personal memory makes it a must have for all that admired Mrs. Onassis from afar. We will never get to meet her, but reading this book and looking upon the exclusive photos will help the reader feel a bit closer to the beauty and complex personality that was Jackie. Please feel free to email me if you are a Jackie Onassis fan. Id love to hear from you.

Marta was with Jackie and the children for more than 20 years (I believe she is now working for Caroline and her family). Her recipes are very fresh, healthy, and sophisticated. Yet they are relatively simple and straightforward. The memories she shares with us, along with family photographs, provide a glimpse into the life of this very private family, and show happy times, like birthday parties and summertime meals at Jackie's home on Martha's Vineyard. She tells us about some favorite family dishes, and comes across as very unpretentious, loving, and loyal. Thanks to Marta, I now know how Jackie stayed so thin: most days, when not entertaining, she had a simple lunch of roasted chicken, cottage cheese, and sliced tomatoes. Now where else are you going to find out something like that? The photographs of the food are lovely, too.

While this is an interesting cookbook, the real value is a look into the private life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis by a valued member of her household. Marta, an Italian who spent more time in France, first came as a French-speaking au pair to tempt the Kennedy kids into learning the language. While that dodge usually failed (she learned English), Marta had other talents. Watching the cooks wherever she went, Marta developed a skill in the kitchen and ended up as Mrs. Onassis' private chef.

Marta treats us to reminiscences about life with Jackie, home photos, and a side of Jackie we never saw in the tabloids. The little hand-written notes of thanks for a mango ice cream show a gracious person with a sense of humor.

The recipes are interesting--Eggs Toupinel is a hollowed-out baked potato refilled with an egg and re-baked. This favorite was served as a lunch for Mrs. Clinton. The information about how food was served and when is also interesting. This is a fascinating peek into the world of a beloved celebrity, and a very fun book to read.

This is a wonderful book!! Marta tells us life in Jackie's home and it makes us see her life in a real sense. Away from the media spin, we see a good life much more normal, with great food. Marta's recipes are wonderful! The flavors combine to make such wonderful food! AND they are not too complicated that they are not do-able. They are easy and well written to make in our kitchens! Marta is wonderful!! Thank You!! I hope we can have a vol. 2 someday!!

The recipes are wonderful and easy to follow and the vignettes are lovely.

It is refreshing to see a book written about Jackie and her family from one who truly loves and rrespects them.

This is an amazing book. You feel like you're right there in the home with them. The public Mrs. Onassis was a very graceful and dignified lady. This book gives you a little peek at another side. I really enjoyed reading that she enjoyed looking at Marta's seed catalogs every spring. Because of these 2 ladies, John and Caroline grew into some very nice adults. The food pictures are so lovely...you want to try each and every recipe. This is such a good format mixing the recipes and memories and telling the stories behind the dishes. This is one book I don't loan to anyone.

The recipes are simple, elegant, and easy to execute. The book is made up of ordinary recipes executed with a special know-how (example...the scrambled eggs, the dill flavored pita-bred, the berry pudding, the baked potatos stuffed with poached eggs, etc.) that make this a very good cookbook. The author's memories and personal photos make it a moving memoir. I was impressed.

like most everyone else i bought this book hoping for more of an inside glimpse into jacqueline kennedy onassis' life wondering what kind of food someone who had been everywhere and experienced almost everything life has to offer would have at home. what a pleasant surprise to find she enjoyed foods all of us can prepare at home without too much muss or fuss. who would have thought shepherds pie or brownies! what i found made the book a must for me though, is the antedote about aristotle onassis and the chocolate cake. i actually laughed. i can see why ms. sgubin fit into this family so nicely because she herself is so charming and kind. i think you'll enjoy "cooking for madame" even if you don't cook simply because it revisites someone we liked having in the world community so much. kudos marta!