May 2002
Ask any chef residing in Britain to name their favorite food
writers past and present and Elizabeth David is sure to make
the list.
For over a third of the last century Elizabeth David lead
the field in British food writing. Living in a multitude of
countries she immersed herself in the cuisine of Europe and
North Africa. Enabling her to write with authority on a broad
spectrum of food and wine related topics. In 1992 Elizabeth
David past away - leaving behind an array of masterfully written
articles and essays.
An Omelet and A Glass of Wine is a collection of her work.
Originally written for The Spectator, Gourmet magazine, Vogue
and The (London) Times. The majority of these pieces were
penned during the 1940's and 50's. My thought when opening
the book was that surely these vintage articles would have
no bearing on today's food scene. How wrong I was.
Whether Ms. David is giving commentary on the service one
receives when dining out or casting her thoughts on simple
convenience foods, like mayonnaise. Her writing proves to
be timeless and completely relevant to current times. Laced
with a gentle touch of grandmotherly humor An Omelet and A
Glass of Wine is a "perfect pick up and put down" book. It
will make an inexpensive addition to your book collection
and offer you the opportunity to enjoy the wisdom of one of
the last century's greatest food writers.