Florida is sun and sand, yes, but it is also cool lakes, ancient oaks, lacy cypress trees, big cities, beautiful farms, and citrus groves covering rolling hills like tufted bedspreads. (From the Introduction} 

{HISTORY}

First published in 1961 by the Junior League of Tampa, The Gasparilla Cookbook has become a cult classic among home cooks around the country.

Featuring recipes from the west coast of Florida, it contains a unique mix of cuisines that highlight the dynamic history of the Sunshine State. Named after Jose Gasper, a legendary Spanish Navy lieutenant who became a Florida pirate in the late 1700s, Gasparilla celebrates the many cultures that contributed to the food landscape of shipping ports along the Gulf of Mexico. Here, Cuban, French, Spanish, Native American, African, Italian and Caribbean flavors swirled around the port cities of Tarpon, Tampa, St Petersburg, Clearwater, Ybor City and Sarasota offering a veritable treasure chest of inspiration for cooks and food enthusiasts.

Although it has never been confirmed that Jose was an actual living, breathing pirate or just a swashbuckling story woven into the colorful tapestry of Florida folklore, his spirit has been celebrated every year since 1904 with the annual Gasparilla Festival which involves a flotilla of boats and pirates that land on the shores of Tampa Bay each January.

Folklore aside, The Gasparilla Cookbook has sold over 230,000 copies since its debut and was inducted into Southern Living's Cookbook Hall of Fame. Containing over 700 recipes, contributions to the cookbook are comprised of family favorites submitted by Florida residents, members of the Junior League, as well as popular menu items from area restaurants. Although the cookbook has been reprinted over 20 times it retains its original 1960s cover art and interior illustrations, the welcome introduction written by the Junior League in 1961 and bits of Florida history surrounding each chapter.  Florida like, California is such a prolific food supplier and this cookbook is packed full of interesting dishes that highlight ne of the most dynamic agricultural regions in the United States.  

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- 1978 edition, 13th Printing

 - 326 pages 

- Contains over 700 recipes

- Illustrated throughout with art by Lamar Sparkman

- Interesting recipes include Florida Sun-King Orange Pie, Kumquat Marmalade, Green Tomato Pickles, Orange Coffee Cake, Fillet of Pompano Neapolitan, Crab Enchiladas, Cuban Shrimp Creole, Florina's Fried Chicken, Open Pit Barbecue, Pineapple Rice, Hominy Puff with Cheese, Dessie Smith's Shrimp Chowder, Orange Bread, Claret Lemonade, Artillery Punch, Peach Slush and so many more! 

 {CONDITION}

In lovely vintage condition, this cookbook is clean and bright throughout and contains no cooking spots, stains or notations. The dust jacket contains a little bit of chipping along the top and bottom edge and tanning along edge of the dust jacket flap at the back.The spine is tight and all pages are intact. 

{SIZE}

Measures 6.25" inches (width) x 9.25" inches (length) x 1.25" inches (thickness) and weighs 1.8lbs.