There's fun for everyone in barbecue cooking and the yum-yum specialties that result aren't limited to any one season... (from the dust jacket)

{HISTORY}

When John and Marie Roberson named their 1951 cookbook, The Complete Barbecue Book they weren't kidding around with the title. It's as complete a barbecue book as ever was published in the mid-20th century. From how to build a barbecue to how to cook on one and what to cook on one, this DIY outdoor cookery book is a fun-filled adventure in the art of preparing meals alfresco year-round.

Beginning with all the different types of barbecue equipment and styles available from pits to grills, dutch ovens to Chinese ovens, spits to stones and everything in between, John and Marie walk readers through the benefits of each style of cooking method and the techniques utilized to build fire and maintain heat at hot enough temperatures to cook food evenly and efficiently.

Over 300 recipes follow those helpful tips including ones for cocktails, dessert, and of course, the main stars of all grilled food - the burgers and hotdogs. But this book is not simply limited to the usual backyard fare, the addition of skillets, coffee pots and trays allow for more gourmet cooking in the form of grilled omelets, glazing sauces, hearty soups, pan-fried entrees, pasta, and pie.  Cocktail recipes start the festivities to encourage a merry environment and  a festive time. 

It's always fun to read cookbooks written by fun people. Marie and John do not disappoint in that department. While being incredibly knowledgeable and proficient about the activity at hand, their voices are light and lively when it comes to engaging readers about all things food and fire. Just like Ina Garten does today, John and Marie tested all their recipes in a variety of different circumstances and seasons, to ensure accurate results and successful meals. And as good hosts themselves, they share helpful tips to ensure a pleasant grill event for all attendees whether you are making dinner for two, breakfast for one, or entertaining a crowd of a dozen.

Before becoming bestselling cookbook authors, John worked in advertising and Marie was an editor at Harper's Bazaar magazine. When they inherited a family chafing dish for their wedding, they had no idea how to use it. Curiosity led them to experiment with it in all sorts of unique ways - an experience that eventually led to the publication of their first cookbook, The Chafing Dish Cookbook, which went on to sell millions of copies.

Needless to say, John and Marie both quit their day jobs and focused on their newfound culinary career and the passion that drove it for the rest of their lives. Travel, Cordon Blue School cooking courses, and a jointly owned kitchen merchandise shop in Greenwich, CT rounded out their culinary pastimes while also publishing over 10 cookbooks throughout their career. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

• 1951 First Edition 
• 294 pages
• Contains original dust jacket
• Illustrated with whimsical line drawings by H. W. Doremus throughout
• Each recipe comes with a suggested menu including complimentary beverages and desserts
• Interesting recipes include Fish-House Punch Rum Cocktail, Filet Mignon with Olive Sauce, Ranger Stew, Barbecued Meat Loaf, Cuban-Style Chopped Beef with Rice, Glazed Ham Steaks with Apples, Perfect Fried Chicken, Chicken Burdwan, Lemon Barbecued Turkey, Shashlik, Hawaiian Shrimp Kebabs, Grill-Baked Stuffed Fish, Down East Clam Chowder, French Quarter Shrimp in Barbecue Sauce, Norwich Clambake, Tropical Omelet, Gardener's Breakfast Sanwiches, Fireside Popcorn, Puffy Corn Oysters, Spider Bread, Flapjacks, Bananas with Lime Juice on a Sizzling Platter, Apple Pie, and Hawaiian Luau Dessert

{CONDITION}

In lovely vintage condition. The dust jacket contains some chiippy areas along the top mnad bottom edge, There is some very light foxing on the front end papers and interior jacket flaps. The interior pages are clean and bright with no cooking stains or notations. The spine is tight and all pages are intact.

{SIZE}

Measures 8.25" inches (length) x 5.5" inches (width) x 1" inch (thickness) and weighs 1.2 lbs