Many of the recipes in this book came to me in exchange from friends all over the world, and have become part of my own cookery repertoire. When the routine of running house and office becomes irksome, I get out my recipe file and pull out one or more these recipes that I have collected.I have tried in my own cookbook here, to compile one that will help the beginning cook and be of constant inspiration to the woman who must plan and produce three or more meals a day and meals for entertaining. Amy Vanderbilt (from the Introduction)

{HISTORY}

The vintage contact paper covered cookbook is the stuff of legend among kitchen collectibles. In the wilds of treasure hunting, we usually see these types of cookbooks in one of two conditions - either stained and shabby or very near death with broken spines and loose pages. They are hallmarks of well-loved recipes that saw so much use over so many years that they had to be patched up with whatever materials were at hand in order to keep all the pages intact. Duct tape, mailing tape, masking tape. Stickers, glue, wallpaper, shelf paper. These are the common tools used to extend life to the vintage cook's favorite book. And while usually these book repairers did a pretty good job at their task, the books eventually succumb to spots and stains, flour explosions and batter leaks until the point that many of the recipes become illegible and the cookbooks then transition into being more of a symbol of a great meal rather than the source of a great meal. 

But once in awhile we come across a gem like this one... a colorful beauty of a cookbook bound in pretty adhesive shelf liner paper that protects an equally beautiful collection of recipes. In this case, Amy Vanderbilt's Complete Cookbook published in 1961, seems to have been covered in contact paper, not for need of repair but more so for preventative or aesthetic reasons, as this book is in lovely condition. It's original cover boards were a somber brown and black, so perhaps this previous owner wanted to brighten things up a bit. A notion Amy herself would have whole-heartedly approved of. 

Appearance aside, Amy Vanderbilt's Cookbook is an 800 page collection of recipes that followed her wildly successful Complete Book of Etiquette which was published in 1952. It took all those years between 1952 and 1961 to write this cookbook, as Amy is nothing but thorough in her work. As a consummate home-entertainer, a world traveler, a wife and a mo,  Amy loved cooking but also understood that it could be a daunting, boring and tedious task as well. In her cookbook, she set out to create imaginative dishes that would inspire the spirit, nutritious feasts that would fuel the body and authentic international meals that would spark the curious.

Here you'll find a plethora of interesting recipes for things like Coconut Tea Loaf Bread, Salmon Pie, Baked Fondue, Floating Islands, Batter-Fried Sardines, Paris Bistro Veal Chops, Pumpkin Chiffon Tarts, King of Sweden Soup, Celery Au Gratin, Sweet Potato Souffle, etc, etc, etc. As a world renowned and beloved etiquette expert, Amy shared thousands of meals with thousands of people from all cultures through her work, so she knew what people liked to eat and how they liked to eat it. In all those adventures of eating and entertaining, she never lost her sense of curiosity for the creative ways that food and flavors could be brought together. This cookbook represents that excitement most, and will appeal to home cooks today, who share similar a similar sense of wonder.

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

 - Contact paper cover

- 811 pages

- Illustrated by Andy Warhol (yes, the famous Andy Warhol!) 

- Covers all matter of meals from Breakfast to Dinner, appetizers to desserts and everything in between

- Suggested menus, cooking terms and measurement tables round out special sections

 - Many recipes include little stories as to their origin or particular musings from Amy

{CONDITION}

In lovely vintage condition. There are a less than a handful of random pages with a few small, light cooking stains. All the pages are intact and the spine is tight. Please note, the contact paper is permanently adhered to the book cover and cannot be removed without incurring damage to the book's cover boards. 

{SIZE}

Measures 5.75" inches (width) x 8.5" inches (length) x 2.25" inches (thick) x 2" inches (thick).

{FOR THE COLLECTOR}

Here in the Vintage Kitchen, we absolutely adore Amy. Find more of her books here, here and here