Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Cook Box ~ Robert Carrier

So here is a true gem, originally from my mother's collection. Carrier had a prolific career as a restauranteur, cookery writer and celebrity chef, and although I have not been able to determine the exact date that this set was published, it is most likely to have been during the early part of the 1970's, though it is possible that it may have been the late 1960's. The set consists of a box of (originally) eighty recipe cards, twenty recipes on salads and appetisers, twenty seafood recipes, twenty meat, game and poultry, and the final twenty of desserts. The set I have is in rather a sad state of disrepair, and I am missing card 20 in the desserts set, and card 2 from the seafood set, however what I do have are just wonderful.


The recipes themselves very much reflect the flavour of the time, and I'm not sure that I would necessarily cook those such as the Sardine-stuffed lemons, the Carrot ring mould with peas and onions or the Orange apricot chantilly. That said, there are some delightful recipes which I would still be more than happy to partake in, such as the French apple flan (whew, I didn't think I'd find one for a moment there!).

Okay, so despite the recipes not being of quite the calibre I'd utilise for my next dinner party, they are definitely accessible, with a great big glossy picture on the front and fairly straightforward instructions on the reverse. I think though that the very best thing about these cards is that they cause me to think of my childhood, when I'd rummage through them and imagine one day making these delicious treats. I do believe that this little box of cards began my love affair with cookbooks. And so, my very favourite card, the one that I love most, card 4 of the desserts, the Poires a la Bourguignonne. It makes me smile.

Recommended for die hard fans of kitsch and food history fans alike. Oh, and collectors, a definite collectors item!

- Kath