French cooking offers more satisfaction to the chef than you might suspect. It is a creative experience, a social asset, and a status symbol all at once, something like composing your own music, entertaining your friends with at parties, and having Leonard Bernstein ask you for advice. (Chapter 1: Kitchen Count-Down)

{HISTORY}

A true pop-culture icon in more ways than one, this vintage intro to French cooking cookbook geared towards teenagers, contains all the enthusiasm of the burgeoning flower power generation ready to delight the world with color, curiosity, and creativity. Co-authored in 1969 by Abby Gail Kirsch, a cookbook writer and Sandra Bangilsdorf Klein, who worked in New York City advertising and marketing during the midcentury MadMen years, this cookbook was published in collaboration with Parent's Magazine. 

What makes it especially wonderful is that it was illustrated by 20th-century pop artist Peter Max, who worked prominently and prolifically in the art world most notably from the 1960s-1980s. Most known for his use of bright colors and groovy psychedelic-like designs, Peter's career traversed the marketing and advertising world for decades and included big-scale art installation projects for corporations as well as custom niche designs for small independent companies and brands. The imagery that appears in this cookbook was exected during his "cosmic years, " the most iconic phase of his career. 

Indeed definitely the most colorful cookbook that has come to the shop yet, the pages of this recipe collection contain rainbow-like washes and colorful imagery on every other page. The recipes themselves, although geared towards teenagers, are a wonderful primer for any age cook who is interested in learning the basic fundamentals of French cooking. Step by step instruction is offered here, as well as schedules of preparation events in order to cook and serve entire French meals. In an engaging voice that speaks both simply and of its time, the you-can-do-it narrative that runs through this cookbook is both engaging and charming - a lovely marriage between pop-culture and confident cooking. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- Published 1969 by Parent's Magazine Press

- Illustrated throughout by Peter Max

- Contains 188 pages

- Special sections include a convenience food table and a glossary of cooking terms 

- All recipes tested by Parent's Magazine Family Food Department

- Interesting recipes include Crepes Chocolat et Orange (Crepes with Chocolate-Orange Sauce; Sauce aux Champignons (Mushroom Sauce); Mousse des Fraises (Strawberry Mousse), Boeuf a la Mode (Braised Beef in Red Wine), Veal Marengo, Roulade au Chocolat (Chocolate Roll), Tart Aux Pommes (French Apple Tart) as well as a chapter on international recipes that include classics like Moussaka, Halva, Ricotta Cream Puffs, Paella and Lamb Curry.

 {CONDITION}

In wonderful vintage condition. All pages are clean and bright as well as the front coverboard. The back coverboard and the paper edge of the spine bear some very light foxing marks. There are no spots, stains or ripped pages on any of the interior content.

{SIZE}

Measures 9"inches (length) x 6" inches (width) x 1" inch (thickness) and weighs 1.2lbs.