She preferred homely dishes, whose excellence came from the use of fresh material of prime quality, prepared with patient care... H.W. Yoxall 

{HISTORY}

Her brother created Babar, the famous elephant of classic children's literature. Her husband was the editor and publisher of several influential French fashion and lifestyle magazines. She was the founding editor-in-chief of French Vogue. And her other brother followed in her footsteps as the magazine's third and longest-running editor-in-chief. 

Meet Francine, also known as Cosette Vogel de Brunhoff (1886-1964). With creativity in her blood, an inherent passion for all of the arts, and a fashionable, literary family close at heart, it's not to hard to see how Francine's interest in fashion, literature and cooking could have easily bloomed given the company she kept.  

In addition to her editorial work, Francine also wrote articles on food and cooking for Jardin des Modes and published Vogue's first French cookbook in 1961. Featuring an array of traditional French recipes and wine pairings to match, Francine's cookbook, Vogue French Cookery, extolled the virtues of market shopping, of selecting the freshest ingredients possible, and of paying close attention to the carefully described techniques that have made French food so revered around the world. Formidable and opinionated but also well-known for her generous hospitality, engaging conversation, and memorable dinner parties, invitations to her apartment in Paris and her country estate were much-anticipated events, primarily because the food could always be counted on for being  fabulous. 

In 1984, Vogue French Cookery was republished in London for the British home cook. Keeping Francine's original 1960s recipes but with some updates and revisions by editor and cookbook author Mary Reynolds,  wine suggestions were revised to include more easily found contemporary equivalents, and helpful editor's cooking notes by Mary were included to aid in the success of recreating Francine's recipes. 

Illustrated throughout with whimsical line drawings by renowned British artist David Gentleman (b. 1930), this cookbook not only represents the work of three talented creatives but also sings with the spirit of Francine and the creative groups of people she most adored. 

As pretty to look at as it is fun to cook from, interesting recipes include Fennel Ratatouille, Sole Baked Mushrooms and Shallots, Beef Braised in Wine, Vanilla Ice Cream, Mediterranean Chicken, Salisifry Fritters, Spinach Timbale, Cheese Souffle, Fifine's Piperade, and Celeriac with Mustardy Mayonnaise. 

Photo of Cosette Vogel de Brunhoff courtesy of Geneanet.

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

• 1984 Edition published by Peerage Books, London
• 160 pages
• Includes original dust jacket
• Beautifully illustrated throughout

{CONDITION}

In beautiful vintage condition, this cookbook looks practically brand new. The interior pages are clean and bright and free of cooking spots, stains and notations. The coverboards are clean and bright. There is one small 1/4 inch rip in the dust jacket at the top edge on the front, and a very light stain on the back of the jacket but other than that, the dust jacket is completely intact and very clean and bright.

{SIZE}

Measures 10.25" inches 9lemgth) x 7.5" inches (width) x .75" inches (thickness) and weighs 1.8 lbs