A Little Dinner Before the Play

Beautifully written, sparkling, witty and knowing, an absolute delight to read

Between 1921-2, Agnes Jekyll (1860-1937) , sister-in-law of Gertrude Jekyll, wrote a series of essays for the Times newspaper with titles such as 'Tray Food' and 'Sunday Supper'. Kitchen Essays is a volume of these first cookery columns ever to be published in the Times. A celebrated hostess, Lady Jekyll's first dinner party included Robert Browning, John Ruskin and Edward Burne-Jones. Full of insight, wit and comfort, Kitchen Essays champions the idea that cooking should always fit the occasion and temperament.

Whether extolling the merits of a cheerful breakfast tray, conjuring up a winter picnic of figs and mulled wine, sharing delicious Tuscan recipes, or suggesting a last-minute pre-theatre dinner, the sparkling writings of the society hostess and philanthropist Agnes Jekyll describe food for every imaginable occasion and mood. 
 
Originally published in The Times in the early 1920s, these divinely witty and brilliantly observed pieces are still loved today for their warmth and friendly advice and, with their emphasis on fresh, simple, stylish dishes, were years ahead of their time.

Hannah Glasse

Agnes Jekyll

Writing for domestic servants in a conversational, accessible way, eighteenth-century housewife Hannah Glasse disapproved of French terminology and fussiness, instead favouring simple dishes that are still cooked today - a preference that has earned her the reputation of 'the first Domestic Goddess'. 
 
With recipes for rice pudding, beef rump, barbecued pork, trifle and even the first recipe in Britain for 'Curry the Indian way', as well as tips for choosing your ingredients and cures for the bite of a mad dog, this is an elegant and economical collection of recipes and housekeeping tips to save any homemaker 'a great deal of trouble'.

Everlasting Syllabub and the Art of Carving

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