The Modern Housewife or Ménagère: Comprising Nearly One Thousand Receipts for the Economic and Judicious Preparation of Every Meal of the Day Contributor(s): Soyer, Alexis (Author) |
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ISBN: 1139626353 ISBN-13: 9781139626354 Publisher: Cambridge University Press OUR PRICE: $72.25 Product Type: Open Ebook - Other Formats Published: October 2014 |
Additional Information |
BISAC Categories: - History | Europe - Great Britain - General |
Dewey: 640.41 |
Series: Cambridge Library Collection - British and Irish History, 19 |
Themes: - Cultural Region - British Isles |
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
Publisher Description: Perhaps the first celebrity chef, Alexis Soyer (1810-58) was a flamboyant, larger-than-life character who nonetheless took his profession very seriously. As the chef of London's Reform Club, he modernised its kitchens, installing refrigerators and gas cookers. They became something of a showpiece, even opening for tours. In contrast, Soyer also organised soup kitchens during the Great Famine in Ireland and volunteered his services in the Crimea in 1855 to improve military catering. He was also a prolific inventor of kitchen gadgets, notably promoting the Magic Stove, used for cooking food at the table. This work, first published in 1849, was aimed at the middle classes. Conceived as a dialogue between two housewives, it contains hundreds of recipes and tips, giving modern readers a rich insight into household management of the time. Also reissued in this series are Soyer's Gastronomic Regenerator (1846) and Culinary Campaign (1857). |