An Omelette and a Glass of Wine, offers 62 articles originally written
by Elizabeth David between 1955 and 1984 for numerous publications
including The Spectator, Gourmet magazine, Vogue, and The Sunday Times.
This revered classic volume contains delightful explorations of food and
cooking, among which are the collection's namesake essay and other such
gems as Syllabubs and Fruit Fools, Sweet Vegetables, Soft Wine, Pleasing
Cheeses, and Whisky in the Kitchen. Her subjects range from the story of
how her own cookery writing began to accounts of some restaurants in
provincial France, of white truffles in Piedmont, wild risottos on the
islands of the Venetian lagoon and odd happenings during rain-drenched
seaside holidays in the British Isles. Here we can share her
appreciation of books, people who influenced her, places she loved and
the delicious meals she enjoyed.
Some of the best essays are those about others who wrote about food such
as Norman Douglas and Mrs Beeton. She writes so vividly that we can see,
taste and even smell the dishes she describes. Many of these pieces,
such as 'I'll Be with You in the Squeezing of a Lemon, ' from 1969 -
about cooking with lemons - barely show their age. But even if they did,
you wouldn't care, because of the rich store of information that David
shares and the literary grace with which she imparts it. Some articles
include recipes, but for the most part this is a volume nicely sized to
curl up with or to take on a trip. Articles, book reviews and travel
pieces, they will be new to many of her readers and a delight to all for
their highly personal flavor.
Jane Grigson praised it for including all the dishes most closely
associated with her, Spiced Beef, Salted Welsh Duck and Syllabub. Her
many admirers will cherish this new hardback edition for its 320 high
quality pages casually interspersed with charming black and white
illustrations and some photographs. It is a book sure to appeal to the
'Elizabeth David' book collector and readers coming to know Ms. David
for the first time will marvel at her wisdom and grace.
