The Alice B. Toklas Cook Book

Buchzusammenfassung

Alice B. Toklas is fondly remembered for her role in the Parisian avant garde in the 1920s and 30s, as well as her numerous books and letters. She was the life partner of writer Gertrude Stein, with whom she lived, traveled, and entertained for nearly 40 years.

Life as an expatriate in early 1900s France offered Alice and Gertrude a vibrant, artistic haven, though it was repeatedly disrupted by war. During World War I, they embraced adventure by delivering aid in their Ford Model T, Aunt Pauline, despite Gertrude's inexperience with driving in reverse. By World War II, older and less agile, they relied on their community in Bugey for survival, bartering for essentials and navigating the black market with Gertrude’s resourcefulness. Their home saw both German and Italian soldiers, the latter bringing tobacco that marked the war’s end. In Paris, Alice’s culinary journey flourished, inspired by artists like Picasso and recipes ranging from buttery omelettes to cannabis fudge. Living with Gertrude sharpened her cooking skills, and she documented recipes for their cooks, valuing precision and tradition. Alice’s openness to diverse techniques, like a coconut marmalade pie from their Martinique cook, enriched her repertoire. French cuisine’s reverence for ingredients and tradition mirrored Alice’s approach, whether perfecting bouillabaisse or mastering the art of slaughtering animals for meals. Her journey reflected both the joys and challenges of creating and preserving culinary excellence amidst the complexities of life and war.

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