The Silver Palate Cookbook [Hardcover]

Julee Rosso (Author), Sheila Lukins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1982

With over 2.2 million copies in print, the widely acclaimed The Silver Palate Cookbook is firmly established as a contemporary classic. Originally published in 1982, the book's elegant, innovative recipes and emphasis on pure, fresh, ingredients ushered a new passion for food and hospitality into the American consciousness.

The lively collection of clear, step-by-step recipes ranges from sublimely refined traditions-Pesto, Manhattan Clam Chowder, and Stuffed Artichokes-to original creations certain to become the topic of conversation at any dinner party. There's PatS de Campagne with Walnuts and Juniper Berries. Fruit-Stuffed Cornish Hens. Caviar Eclairs. Blueberry Bisque. Plus over 300 more recipes for hors d'oeuvres, dips and sauces, picnic fare, entrSes, salads, soups, breads, desserts. Throughout the book are valuable menu and serving suggestions, literary quotes, food guides, food lore, and whimsical illustrations. Selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club, Quality Paperback Book Club, Book-of-the-Month Club's HomeStyle Books, Better Homes & Gardens Family Book Service, and the ABA Basic Booklist. A James Beard Book Awards inductee into the cookbook Hall of Fame.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The Silver Palate, a small but notable New York eatery, won several national awards and distributed their packaged goods to fine food stores across the country. Owners Julee Rosso & Sheila Lukins wrote The Silver Palate Cookbook so that lovers of their chunky apple cake with cider glaze or their fruit-stuffed Cornish hens can re-create these dishes at home. In addition to a lively collection of recipes that are suitable for both entertaining and everyday, there are valuable menu and serving suggestions, literary quotes, food guides, food lore and whimsical illustrations by Ms. Lukins. The book won the 1991 James Beard Cookbook Award.

Review

. . .Rosso and Lukins have found a recipe for success, a combination of hard work and the love and knowledge of good food. -- Cuisine

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Workman Publishing Company; 1 edition (April 1, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0894802038
• ISBN-13: 978-0894802034
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (89 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #231,024 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #85 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Professional Cooking > Professional

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

80 of 81 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you can only have one cookbook , this is the one., February 22, 2001

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mirope "mirope" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Silver Palate Cookbook (Paperback)

This is cookbook is as fresh and relevant today as it was when it was first published in the early 80s. It truly revolutionized home cooking in America with its emphasis on fresh ingredients and basic cooking techniques. It isn't a particularly long cookbook, but it still manages to be incredibly comprehensive. You'll find everything from elegant appetizers to comfort food desserts. Any time you're interested in trying something new or wanting to revitalize an old classic, this is the place to start. The authors went on to write other cookbooks which also contain lots of great recipes, but even "Basics" is not as comprehensive as this one. I can honestly say that I've cooked just about every recipe in this book and that each one has been a success. Not only are the recipes consistently good, but this book also makes great reading. In very practical terms the authors share truly useful tips on cooking techniques, kitchens gadgets and how to select produce. The book is particularly well organized so it's easy to find the recipe you're looking for.

49 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Return of a Beloved Friend, May 27, 2007

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Channon Coats "channoncoats" (Yuba City, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Silver Palate Cookbook 25th Anniversary Edition (Hardcover)

I've had this cookbook for 25 years, and while the recipes are the same, there is some new commentary, and the pix are now photos instead of the original drawings. While not altogether more helpful in that respect, my old and beloved version is tattered, stained, and really deserves to retire from almost daily use. I have met more interesting people over Chicken Marbella all over the world than any other recipe I "do." It has been a family fixture every July 4th at Lake Almanor for 25 years. I've had it at Passover at friends' homes; and bcs of it renewed relationships with women who really would have preferred to avoid me forever. Sounds weird? Well, there is little in life that crosses all political, religious and emotional borders like food; and there is even less like Chicken Marbella, which can even spark conversations in Urdu (which I do not speak, yet we managed to communicate to each other our passion about CM). If you try nothing else, and believe me, you will try a lot else, do the CM. The ingredient list appears long, but it is very easy. In fact, there is nothing in this whole book that is difficult, yet the results are deeply complex and pleasurable. Rosso and Lukins make me look like a chef instead of a cook and I will bless them forever for it. If you don't have a copy of Silver Palate, try it. If you do have one, you already know what I'm talking about, and you NEED a replacement just as I did.

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorites!, February 15, 2003

By 

Debbie Lee Wesselmann (the Lehigh Valley, PA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (2008 HOLIDAY TEAM)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Silver Palate Cookbook (Paperback)

THE SILVER PALATE COOKBOOK was one of the first cookbooks to introduce new American cuisine into the kitchens of ordinary homes. With its emphasis on fresh ingredients and innovative dishes, it freed many cooks from mundane meals. Now, of course, two decades after its first printing, many of the recipes no longer seem inventive. Goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes are no longer exotic ingredients, and balsamic vinaigrette can be found at almost every restaurant. Now, instead of surprising cooks, THE SILVER PALATE COOKBOOK supplies them with a wonderful array of recipes that can liven up meal time.

Most of the recipes contained in this volume are relatively easy to prepare, with some requiring more time and effort than others. The techniques do not require any special knowledge, and the recipes are logically laid out, with numbered steps and clear English. You'll find easily assembled dishes such as "Tomato, Montrachet, and Basil Salad" as well as the much more complicated "Layered Vegetable Terrine." My favorite recipes are "Marinated Beef Salad," "Curried Butternut Squash Soup," "Tarragon Chicken Salad," "Skewer Shrimp and Proscuitto," "Salmon Mousse," and "Coconut Macaroons." I can't come close to listing all the successful recipes I've prepared from this cookbook, although I occasionally find one that I don't like. Because most of the ingredients are now readily available in a good supermarket, you can assemble what you need without hassle.

Anyone with a minimal amount of cooking experience should be able to succeed with these recipes. They are especially great for company since you can select impressive recipes that don't require long hours in the kitchen.