In the mid-1990s; Chris Kimball moved into an 1859 Victorian townhouse on the South End of Boston and; as he became accustomed to the quirks and peculiarities of the house and neighborhood; he began to wonder what it was like to live and cook in that era. In particular; he became fascinated with Fannie Farmer’s Boston Cooking-School Cook Book. Published in 1896; it was the best-selling cookbook of its age—full of odd; long-forgotten ingredients; fascinating details about how the recipes were concocted; and some truly amazing dishes (as well as some awful ones).In Fannie’s Last Supper; Kimball describes the experience of re-creating one of Fannie Farmer’s amazing menus: a twelve-course Christmas dinner that she served at the end of the century. Kimball immersed himself in composing twenty different recipes—including rissoles; Lobster À l’AmÉricaine; Roast Goose with Chestnut Stuffing and Jus; and Mandarin Cake—with all the inherent difficulties of sourcing unusual animal parts and mastering many now-forgotten techniques; including regulating the heat on a coal cookstove and boiling a calf’s head without its turning to mush; all sans food processor or oven thermometer. Kimball’s research leads to many hilarious scenes; bizarre tastings; and an incredible armchair experience for any reader interested in food and the Victorian era. Fannie’s Last Supper includes the dishes from the dinner and revised and updated recipes from The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book. A culinary thriller. it offers a fresh look at something that most of us take for granted—the American table.
#1139048 in Books Vintage 2007-01-09 2007-01-09Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.98 x 1.09 x 5.19l; 1.04 #File Name: 1400033799528 pages
Review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Understanding the German mindsetBy JackWhen I first tackled this book I was at first disappointed in the deap depth of the detail given by the author. It seemed like more detail than was needed. I was determined to push through the details. It paid off for me when I reached the chapters that covered the period after the defeat of the Nazis. The detail gave me the understanding of how the German people suddenly flip-flopped and then blamed the Nazis for their problems without much self examination of the individuals own role in the unbridled support they gave to the Nazis. This insight was very real for me because the book contains quotes from journals; diary notes; letters; and personal reports of the people who were diehard supporters of the Nazis. The author has demonstrated the tenacious perseverance to get to the feelings and thoughts of the people that supported the Nazis. It is very insightful to realize how brainwashed the Germans had become. The idea of blaming the bombing of their cities on the Americans who were tools of the Jews because the Germans had not bombed any cities in the USA. It only leads to the conclusion that the Germans did not think for themselves but were sponges to absorb the propaganda of their regime. Wow!!! How could such smart people be so stupid??0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A moving book that will; definitely; make you ...By Susannah L. SulzmanA moving book that will; definitely; make you cry; make you think; and tune you in to the suffering of the people considered "collateral damage" in any war effort. This one is heartbreaking and well worth reading.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Experiences of the Germans and All Their VictimsBy VanThe book focuses on the experience of children (weighted towards teenagers) during the war. For most readers there is probably not a whole lot that's new here; but it's a good overview.
