Creole Cookery [Hardcover]

The Christian Woman's Exchange (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 31, 2006

This 1885 volume is one of the two oldest cookbooks published in New Orleans. Many of the recipes, compiled by 18 ladies from the Women's Exchange, are still used in the open-hearth kitchen at the historic Hermann-Grima House in New Orleans' French Quarter. Although over 120 years old, the recipes are still valid and adaptable for modern cooks.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

"The time is now ripe for a new 'Almanach des Gourmands,' and the following collected recipes, with their prestige of great names, including what is best in the Creole and American cuisine, are introduced, with the modest hope that they may prove to both public and publisher a source of rich, practical benefit." --from the preface First published by the thirty-two ladies of the Christian Woman's Exchange in 1885, Creole Cookery is an exhaustive collection of Creole recipes, the second volume of its kind to be printed in New Orleans. Reprinted here in its original format, Creole Cookery serves as both a historical reference to the foods and habits of the day as well as a usable recipe book for modern-day kitchens. Many of the recipes are used for cooking demonstrations in the open-hearth kitchen at the Hermann-Grima House in New Orleans' French Quarter. All of the recipes contained in this volume are Creole favorites and standbys, including okra soup, parsnip fritters, onion custard, boiled trout, stuffed eggplants, bewitched beef, and fried tomatoes. Over 150 cake recipes exemplify the Southern sweet tooth, and there are ample recipes for shellfish, puddings, meats, preserves, ices, breads, pickles, and more. To read this recipe book is to step back in time and delight in the language, attitudes, and customs of the late-nineteenth century and to appreciate the dedication of the members of the Woman's Exchange in compiling such a comprehensive volume. (Back Flap) Founded in 1881 to help women in need, the Woman's Exchange has been a vital part of New Orleans throughout its history. Its raison d'etre, then and now, has been to serve the community. Later, they changed their mission to reflect education and historic preservation. In the 1960s they transformed the Hermann-Grima House from a boarding house into a museum dedicated to illustrating life in the "Golden Age" of New Orleans. In 1996, the organization acquired the home of famed architect James Gallier, Jr. The Hermann-Grima and Gallier Historic Houses are committed to research, education, and the preservation of New Orleans' culture. This reprint is a joint project of the Hermann-Grima/Gallier Historic Houses and the Historic New Orleans Collection.

About the Author

Founded in 1881 to help women in need, the Woman's Exchange has been a vital part of New Orleans throughout its history. Its raison d'etre, then and now, has been to serve the community. Later, they changed their mission to reflect education and historic preservation. In the 1960s they transformed the Hermann-Grima House from a boarding house into a museum dedicated to illustrating life in the "Golden Age" of New Orleans. In 1996, the organization acquired the home of famed architect James Gallier, Jr. The Hermann-Grima and Gallier Historic Houses are committed to research, education, and the preservation of New Orleans' culture.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Pelican Publishing (March 31, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589803426
• ISBN-13: 978-1589803428
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #923,609 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An historical cookbook that STILL works!, June 7, 2007

By 

Michael K. Smith (South Louisiana) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Creole Cookery (Hardcover)

This photoreproduced volume of the original 1885 edition is an historical work of some local importance -- the second collection of Creole recipes ever published. As hundreds of civic groups have done since, the thirty-two ladies of the still-existing Christian Woman's Exchange compiled this book as a money-raiser so they could buy or build a permanent roof over their heads. "The recipes which make up the collection," they assured the reader, "are the contributions of housekeepers experienced in the science of cookery as practiced throughout the South, and more particularly as it is understood and applied by the Creoles of Louisiana." Their effort was quite exhaustive and the result, 120 years later, is a still perfectly usable recipe book -- many of them are in regular in the public cooking demonstrations at the Hermann-Grima House in the French Quarter, which the Christian Woman's Exchange eventually made their headquarters. It's also a fascinating reference source in the foods and eating habits of our ancestors. Besides okra soup and parsnip fritters (I'll pass), you'll find Sauce Piquante (yum!), Baked Red Snapper, Fried Tomatoes with Peppers, Peach Sherbet, and Roll Jelly Cake [sic]. In fact, there are more than 150 cake recipes. Also a dozen ways to prepare oysters, three dozen pickling recipes, and more than a hundred puddings. It's instructive of the distinction between "creole" and "cajun," though, that you won't find jambalaya, dirty rice, or similar rural staples.