The Epicurean – The Classic 1893 Cookbook

The Epicurean: The Classic 1893 Cookbook (Calla Editions) by Charles Ranhofer is a nearly 1200 page tome on the art of cooking. Ranhofer was a master chef who worked for decades at America’s most celebrated restaurant of the Gilded Age.

Ranhofer was already famous when he was hired by the legendary Delmonico’s of New York, and under his supervision, the restaurant’s kitchen achieved even greater renown. In 1893 Ranhofer shared his professional secrets with the publication of The Epicurean. This splendid reproduction of the now-rare volume offers modern cooks and gastronomes a complete culinary encyclopedia, comprising more than 3,500 recipes. 

From appetizing soups, sauces, and garnishes to mouth-watering desserts, this collection provides a wealth of options for every course, including recipes for meats, seafood, and hot and cold side dishes as well as wine pairings. In addition to 92 ways to prepare eggs and 172 vegetable dishes, scores of menus offer suggestions for breakfasts, luncheons, dinners, buffets, suppers, and parties.  A detailed index directs readers to specific dishes and foods, and nearly 800 black-and-white illustrations depict methods of preparation, table settings, cuts of meat, carving methods, and other techniques.

Inspiration and practical instruction abound in this historic book, which is as suitable for at-home cooks wishing to add elegance and sophistication to their kitchen repertoire as it is for gourmets and professionals seeking a guide to world cuisine. Anyone with a taste for fine dining will find this this self-contained library a timeless guide to the pleasures of food and drink. Just as Mastering the Art of French Cooking is a must have in a cookbook lover’s collection, this title is as well. 

Dover is providing two copies of this beautiful book to our members worldwide in our contest below as well as offering 25 percent off any of their cookery titles for the holidays using this link and entering the code WRBK which expires on 12/31/2017.  

The publisher is offering two copies of this book worldwide. One of the entry options is to answer the following question in the comments section of this blog post.

Which book from Dover’s site would you like?

Please note that you must be logged into the Rafflecopter contest before posting or your entry won’t be counted. For more information on this process, please see our step-by-step help post. Be sure to check your spam filters to receive our email notifications. Prizes can take up to 6 weeks to arrive from the publishers. If you are not already a Member, you can join at no cost. The contest ends at midnight on December 13th, 2017.

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82 Comments

  • Kristjudy  on  November 13, 2017

    I would love cocolat

  • mjes  on  November 13, 2017

    Early American Herb Recipes by Alice Cooke Brown

  • kmn4  on  November 13, 2017

    "A Treasury of Great Recipes", Mary and Vincent Price!

  • VRickard  on  November 13, 2017

    As an Archaeology student, I would love to have a copy of Apicus, Cooking and Dining I'm Imperial Rome.

  • VRickard  on  November 13, 2017

    As an Archaeology student, I would love to have a copy of Apicus, Cooking and Dining in Imperial Rome.

  • dangold  on  November 13, 2017

    Food, Cookery, and Dining in Ancient Times: Alexis Soyer's Pantropheon

  • jthelwell  on  November 13, 2017

    I love cookbooks from that era; just reading them is a treat. Trying some of the recipes is ecstasy!

  • Angryyew  on  November 13, 2017

    The Art of Cookery looks interesting.

  • lisaevanoff  on  November 13, 2017

    1000 ways to please a husband! lol!

  • ravensfan  on  November 13, 2017

    Napkin Folding for Beginners

  • Zoe  on  November 13, 2017

    I'd be making breakfast pho with poached eggs from Elizabeth St Cafe – sounds like the best breakfast ever

    https://www.eatyourbooks.com/library/recipes/1855168/breakfast-pho-with-poached-eggs

  • lpatterson412  on  November 13, 2017

    The Pennsylvania Dutch Cookbook looks interesting, I would love to see all of it's recipes!

  • lpatterson412  on  November 13, 2017

    I would love to own this cookbook, I think it would be a delightful read! Getting to learn about the history of our food is so very interesting to me, and just seeing where we have come from with recipes from the past!

  • Livia  on  November 13, 2017

    Most certainly The Epicurean – The Classic 1893 Cookbook

  • PanNan  on  November 13, 2017

    Complete Guide to Home Canning and Preserving. I want to learn how to preserve the bounty that comes out of my garden.

  • VeryVigario  on  November 13, 2017

    Would love to try "Austrian Cooking and Baking" and the Epicurean sounds interesting ๐Ÿ™‚

  • iza27  on  November 14, 2017

    Cocolat by Alice Medrich

  • lapsapchung  on  November 14, 2017

    Austrian Cooking and Baking

  • vickster  on  November 14, 2017

    The Picayune's Creole Cookbook

  • alemily  on  November 14, 2017

    Picayune's Creole Cookbook

  • sarahawker  on  November 14, 2017

    The Food and Drink of Mexico
    By: George C. Booth

  • Karla123  on  November 14, 2017

    As a gardener, I would love "Gardening à la Mode: Vegetables."

  • skipeterson  on  November 14, 2017

    The Picayune's Creole Cook Book

  • WCchopper  on  November 14, 2017

    Native Harvest!

  • ktwalla  on  November 14, 2017

    Toll House Tried and True Recipes

  • contest718  on  November 14, 2017

    The Cheese Handbook: Over 250 Varieties Described, with Recipes

  • Rooks  on  November 14, 2017

    Spices and Herbs: Lore and Cookery

  • thecharlah  on  November 14, 2017

    Cookery and Dining in Imperial Rome

  • matag  on  November 14, 2017

    Toll House

  • heyjude  on  November 15, 2017

    A Thousand Ways to Please a Husband. I only know about 900.

  • wester  on  November 15, 2017

    Food, Cookery, and Dining in Ancient Times looks very interesting.

  • lgroom  on  November 15, 2017

    Early American Herb Recipes.

  • NaomiH  on  November 15, 2017

    Rufus Estes' Good Things to Eat: The First Cookbook by an African-American Chef

  • Siegal  on  November 15, 2017

    The Long Island seafood cookbooks sounds so
    Fun

  • MetteJohnsen  on  November 15, 2017

    So many interesting titles. Complete Guide to Home Canning and Preserving I would love.

  • WEH  on  November 16, 2017

    Many, many books to choose from, all classics – but I would really like most to have a modern printing of the Epicurean. I already have the 1893 edition, and it pains me to open it up to pull out a recipe – much safer to have a facsimile edition to work with in the kitchen!

  • AGENT99  on  November 16, 2017

    Complete Guide to Home Canning and Preserving (Second Revised Edition)

  • mjkoepplin  on  November 16, 2017

    I found the Mary and Vincent Price Come into the Kitchen Cookbook intriguing. Remembering him only from movies I found terrifying as a child, it surprised me to find a cookbook written by he and his wife.

  • SheenaSharp  on  November 16, 2017

    but its the Epicurean that I want!

  • ptkcollins  on  November 17, 2017

    The Picayune's Creole Cookbook

  • milgwimper  on  November 17, 2017

    Austrian Cooking and Baking

    By: Gretel Beer

  • RSW  on  November 18, 2017

    Home Canning and Preserving.

  • RSW  on  November 18, 2017

    or any one.

  • t.t  on  November 18, 2017

    Hannah Glasse's The Art of Cookery

  • bdmltm  on  November 19, 2017

    Toll House Tried and True Recipes

  • jd5761  on  November 19, 2017

    the cheese handbook

  • madelainelc  on  November 19, 2017

    I seriously need a copy of Cooking Price-wise, though I must say I have a strange desire for the decorative napkin folding books…

  • jc214a  on  November 20, 2017

    Chocolat is my choice.

  • robynsanyal  on  November 20, 2017

    The Food & Drink of mexico

  • kitchenclimbers  on  November 20, 2017

    The Cheese Handbook!

  • luccio  on  November 20, 2017

    Cookery and Dining in Imperial Rome by Apicus – I've read about this book, but had no idea it was still available!

  • Scotsman61  on  November 20, 2017

    Apicus, Cooking and Dining in Imperial Rome

  • cookn  on  November 21, 2017

    Austrian cooking & baking

  • Arinelle  on  November 21, 2017

    Russian Cookbook

  • fbrunetti  on  November 21, 2017

    Cookery and Dining in Imperial Rome

  • cookingalice  on  November 22, 2017

    The Russian Cookbook are very intresting

  • AnnaZed  on  November 23, 2017

    I'm interested in The Soufflé Cookbook By: Myra Waldo

  • Smuz90  on  November 24, 2017

    I'd want them all ๐Ÿ˜› I'm intrigues by Austrian Cooking and Baking.

  • stitchan  on  November 24, 2017

    Long Island Seafood Cookbook

  • PennyBarr  on  November 25, 2017

    Love the look of The Epicurean, but also fancy the Cheese Handbook.

  • DesiKim  on  November 25, 2017

    Such a treasure trove of old books, many difficult to find in bookstores today!
    I'm very intrigued by "A Thousand Ways to Please a Husband: with Bettina's Best Recipes", but I think "Toll House Tried and True Recipes" will give me more recipes to work with

  • sugo  on  November 28, 2017

    "A Thousand Ways to Please a Husband: with Bettina's Best Recipes" please

  • infotrop  on  November 28, 2017

    The Cheese Handbook sounds fun

  • Seren_Ann  on  November 29, 2017

    Native Harvests sounds interesting ๐Ÿ™‚

  • ninaarahgnis  on  November 29, 2017

    Growing and Using Herbs and Spices!

  • lindaeatsherbooks  on  November 30, 2017

    I like Pennsylvania Dutch Cook Book by J. George Frederick.

  • Uhmandanicole  on  November 30, 2017

    Early American Cookery

  • Katiefayhutson  on  December 1, 2017

    Austrian Cooking and Baking

  • lhodder2016  on  December 2, 2017

    A Thousand Ways to Please a Husband: with Bettina's Best Recipes

  • lhudson  on  December 2, 2017

    The First Cookbook for Children…. for my Grandchildren

  • antpantsii  on  December 2, 2017

    The Food of Mexico!

  • sgump  on  December 4, 2017

    I've heard a lot about *The Settlement Cookbook* (1903) and would be intrigued as to its contents. (And, for historical purposes, *The Epicurean* looks awesome, too!)

  • rosalee  on  December 11, 2017

    Fannie Farmer's Original 1896 Boston Cooking-School Cook Book!

  • Senkimekia  on  December 12, 2017

    The Epicurean:)

  • jmay42066  on  December 13, 2017

    The Pennsylvania Dutch Cookbook would be my first choice.

  • JuneHawk  on  December 13, 2017

    Apicius

  • orchidlady01  on  December 14, 2017

    Early American Cookery – "The Good Housekeeper" 1841 by Sarah Joseph Hale

  • tarae1204  on  December 16, 2017

    A Thousand Ways to Please a Husband – sounds hilarious.

  • obigi  on  December 17, 2017

    Austrian cooking and baking

  • tennyogirl  on  December 17, 2017

    A Date with a Dish

  • bettinab  on  December 18, 2017

    So enjoy these books

  • v.t  on  December 19, 2017

    The Virginia Housewife: Or, Methodical Cook: A Facsimile of an Authentic Early American Cookbook

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