This anthology of Elizabeth David's work, originally published in
hardback in 2000, is a direct sequel to An Omelette and a Glass of Wine.
It again contains a selection of her journalistic and occasional work
from four decades. Much of it she had chosen herself for reprinting in
this more accessible form. In addition there is a considerable amount of
unpublished material found in her own files, or contributed by friends
to whom she had given recipes, or to whom she had sent letters, either
with notes in answer to queries or giving details of current research.
None of the material here appears in any of her other nine books. The
emphasis throughout is on the practical aspects of cooking and eating,
and the book contains over 150 recipes. These stem from many different
countries, but they all have Elizabeth David's unmistakable personal
touch - a Mediterranean tomato consommé or a typically English raspberry
ice cream. Little-known articles on her many and varied likes and
dislikes complete a unique picture of what for so long made her the most
influential cookery writer in the English language. Her work is always
immensely readable, elegant and witty, and she has a wonderful ability
to share her sense of season and place, her passionate interest in food,
its history, its myriad styles and its role in society. There is much
here to enjoy both for dedicated Elizabeth David fans and for those who
are new to her writing.
