Description
Dining with the Famous and Infamous is an entertaining journey into the gastronomic peccadilloes of celebrities, stars, and notorious public figures. From outrageous artists to masterpiece authors, from rock stars to actors - everybody eats. Based on the findings of the British gastro-detective Fiona Ross, this volume explores the palates, the plates, and the preferences of the famous and infamous. Including recipes and their stories in the lives of those who cooked, ordered or ate them, Ross invites you to taste the culinary secret lives of people like Alfred Hitchcock, Frank Sinatra, and Woody Allen, among many others. Food voyeurism has arrived. If you've ever wondered whether George Orwell really swigged Victory Gin or whether cherries played their part in the fall of Oscar Wilde, then Dining with the Famous and Infamous will satisfy your appetite. 'Marilyn Monroe becomes a different kind of sex goddess when you discover she tried to eat her way out of Some Like It Hot with aubergine parmigiana: every curve you see on film is a protest (plus early signs of pregnancy!). You can recreate a 'Get Gassed' afternoon cocktail with Andy Warhol and Truman Capote; shake up the chocolate martini Liz Taylor and Rock Hudson invented on the set of Giant; and even relive the Swinging Sixties with the foodie tales, hedonism and hashish cookies of Bob Dylan, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones. Who wouldn't want to sit at the table of their favorite film star, writer, artist or warlock and taste a piece of their lives?
About the Author
Fiona Ross, like most of us, leads a double existence: In her "normal" life as a writer of fiction and freelance food writer in a gloomy, rainy corner of the United Kingdom called Bishop's Stortford, she keeps company with two meat-eating chickens and her dog, Parsnip. Meanwhile, her glamorous double works as a gastro-detective whose headquarters is the famous Bodleian Library in Oxford; there she spends her time on the trail of gastronomes and investigating such sticky issues as how much jam Marx liked on his tarts.
Reviews
This is a well-researched journey into the eating habits of celebrities, artists, and public figures throughout history. Ross, an English teacher by day and freelance food writer by night, uses a simplistic tabloid tone to highlight eccentricities such as Salvador Dali's erotic ties to odd cuisine. The author recreates dishes, including the Spanish artist's favorite seduction recipe: lobster in chocolate sauce. She digs into Marilyn Monroe's ravenous appetite, claiming that the movie star 'was the ultimate comfort eater,' using eggplant parmigiana as a form of protest to gain weight before auditioning for a role she didn't want (but got anyway, curves and all) in Some Like It Hot. Instructions for Monroe's 'Chicken Cacciatore to Woo Arthur Miller' are also included. . . .Ross . . . offer[s] tantalizing glimpses into private lives. * Publishers Weekly *
Always wanted to know the way to Frank Sinatra's heart? Any interest in what Aleister Crowley would consume before his rituals? In Dining with the Famous and Infamous by Fiona Ross, readers get a chance to look into the diets and habits of famous musicians, artists, writers and movie stars. Whether you're always wondered what Salvador Dali's 'erotically charged' meals consisted of, or who had the best recipe for hashish fudge, Fiona Ross's highly researched book is a delicious find for fans of celebrity history and period recipes. . . .Ross's tone is conversational; it's almost as if she's letting you know the dirty little secrets of friends and family while cooking their favorite recipes. Think of it as outing a relative on their secret affair while baking their well-known cake recipe. Dining with the Famous and Infamous is a great guide, whether you read it straight through or go straight for your favorite writers and musicians at your leisure. This is a great book for creating a fancy dinner or sticking to the basics of drinks and appetizers. It is ideal for a Classic Hollywood themed party or a Writer soiree. * FangirlNation *
Dining with the Famous and Infamous is a kind of cookbook to the stars, featuring numerous food-centric anecdotes about artists, musicians, movie stars and others from the entertainment realm. This might seem like a significant limitation, but Ross manages to cook up some pretty good stories about some VERY famous people. However, this book isn't just about telling you what these beloved (and not-so-beloved) figures ate - it's about telling you how to make it for yourself. . . .So whether we're talking about the adolescent eating habits of the Beatles or the quiet meals shared between Bogey and Bacall, Dining with the Famous and Infamous offers you an opportunity to eat those same foods. The book presents an opportunity for you to connect with these stars in a very visceral way - through the stomach. While one could argue that neither the anecdotes nor the recipes alone could stand on their own, there's no doubt that together, they are an intriguing reading experience. . . .We all have to eat; it's one of those universalities that connect everybody. What Dining with the Famous and Infamous does is give that connection specificity - there's something oddly compelling about knowing what food likes (and dislikes) you might share with a movie star or a literary icon. Fans of celebrity culture and/or cookbooks will find plenty to like here. * The Maine Edge *
A sensual delight that moves the reader artfully from Dali to Oscar Wylde, Sylvia Plath to Frida and Diego, and from Warhol to Sinatra and John Steinbeck. The common ground is the sensuality of food and cooking from the very simple to the infinitely complex foods of childhood and intimate moments in Cambridge and Paris --or Tahiti. And daily lives of the rich and celebrated. Fiona Ross' writing is both funny and insightful as she moves through lives of celebrity extravagance and artisanal poverty. Its all about the aromas of creativity, culture and personality. A wonderful read. As she artfully warns us about Dali's favorite chocolate and lobster dish: "Prepare to be Seduced." -- James McCann, author of Stirring the Pot: A History of African Cuisine, winner of the 2010 Best in the World award from Gourmand Magazine (Paris)
This book not only has an eye-catching title but also fascinating stories about how the famous and infamous ate. It even includes recipes for anyone intent to emulate their life style! A true page-turner! -- Q. Edward Wang, author of Chopsticks: A Cultural and Culinary History
Ever wanted to dine with Agatha Christie? Bob Dylan? Cary Grant? Marilyn Monroe? Picasso? Cassanova? Well, Fiona Ross' Dining with the Famous and Infamous is the next best thing- a delightfully irreverent romp through the culinary foibles of the world's greatest movie stars, artists, musicians, writers and well, nuts. The really good news is that you can sample some of their tantalizing treats with the unique recipes that are supplied. For chocolate lovers, "Andy Warholian Chocolate Soup" recipe is a must try! -- Andrew F. Smith, culinary historian
Book Information
ISBN 9781442252257
Author Fiona Ross
Format Hardback
Page Count 258
Imprint Rowman & Littlefield
Publisher Rowman & Littlefield
Weight(grams) 508g
Dimensions(mm) 238mm * 158mm * 23mm
About the Author
Fiona Ross, like most of us, leads a double existence: In her "normal" life as a writer of fiction and freelance food writer in a gloomy, rainy corner of the United Kingdom called Bishop's Stortford, she keeps company with two meat-eating chickens and her dog, Parsnip. Meanwhile, her glamorous double works as a gastro-detective whose headquarters is the famous Bodleian Library in Oxford; there she spends her time on the trail of gastronomes and investigating such sticky issues as how much jam Marx liked on his tarts.
Reviews
This is a well-researched journey into the eating habits of celebrities, artists, and public figures throughout history. Ross, an English teacher by day and freelance food writer by night, uses a simplistic tabloid tone to highlight eccentricities such as Salvador Dali's erotic ties to odd cuisine. The author recreates dishes, including the Spanish artist's favorite seduction recipe: lobster in chocolate sauce. She digs into Marilyn Monroe's ravenous appetite, claiming that the movie star 'was the ultimate comfort eater,' using eggplant parmigiana as a form of protest to gain weight before auditioning for a role she didn't want (but got anyway, curves and all) in Some Like It Hot. Instructions for Monroe's 'Chicken Cacciatore to Woo Arthur Miller' are also included. . . .Ross . . . offer[s] tantalizing glimpses into private lives. * Publishers Weekly *
Always wanted to know the way to Frank Sinatra's heart? Any interest in what Aleister Crowley would consume before his rituals? In Dining with the Famous and Infamous by Fiona Ross, readers get a chance to look into the diets and habits of famous musicians, artists, writers and movie stars. Whether you're always wondered what Salvador Dali's 'erotically charged' meals consisted of, or who had the best recipe for hashish fudge, Fiona Ross's highly researched book is a delicious find for fans of celebrity history and period recipes. . . .Ross's tone is conversational; it's almost as if she's letting you know the dirty little secrets of friends and family while cooking their favorite recipes. Think of it as outing a relative on their secret affair while baking their well-known cake recipe. Dining with the Famous and Infamous is a great guide, whether you read it straight through or go straight for your favorite writers and musicians at your leisure. This is a great book for creating a fancy dinner or sticking to the basics of drinks and appetizers. It is ideal for a Classic Hollywood themed party or a Writer soiree. * FangirlNation *
Dining with the Famous and Infamous is a kind of cookbook to the stars, featuring numerous food-centric anecdotes about artists, musicians, movie stars and others from the entertainment realm. This might seem like a significant limitation, but Ross manages to cook up some pretty good stories about some VERY famous people. However, this book isn't just about telling you what these beloved (and not-so-beloved) figures ate - it's about telling you how to make it for yourself. . . .So whether we're talking about the adolescent eating habits of the Beatles or the quiet meals shared between Bogey and Bacall, Dining with the Famous and Infamous offers you an opportunity to eat those same foods. The book presents an opportunity for you to connect with these stars in a very visceral way - through the stomach. While one could argue that neither the anecdotes nor the recipes alone could stand on their own, there's no doubt that together, they are an intriguing reading experience. . . .We all have to eat; it's one of those universalities that connect everybody. What Dining with the Famous and Infamous does is give that connection specificity - there's something oddly compelling about knowing what food likes (and dislikes) you might share with a movie star or a literary icon. Fans of celebrity culture and/or cookbooks will find plenty to like here. * The Maine Edge *
A sensual delight that moves the reader artfully from Dali to Oscar Wylde, Sylvia Plath to Frida and Diego, and from Warhol to Sinatra and John Steinbeck. The common ground is the sensuality of food and cooking from the very simple to the infinitely complex foods of childhood and intimate moments in Cambridge and Paris --or Tahiti. And daily lives of the rich and celebrated. Fiona Ross' writing is both funny and insightful as she moves through lives of celebrity extravagance and artisanal poverty. Its all about the aromas of creativity, culture and personality. A wonderful read. As she artfully warns us about Dali's favorite chocolate and lobster dish: "Prepare to be Seduced." -- James McCann, author of Stirring the Pot: A History of African Cuisine, winner of the 2010 Best in the World award from Gourmand Magazine (Paris)
This book not only has an eye-catching title but also fascinating stories about how the famous and infamous ate. It even includes recipes for anyone intent to emulate their life style! A true page-turner! -- Q. Edward Wang, author of Chopsticks: A Cultural and Culinary History
Ever wanted to dine with Agatha Christie? Bob Dylan? Cary Grant? Marilyn Monroe? Picasso? Cassanova? Well, Fiona Ross' Dining with the Famous and Infamous is the next best thing- a delightfully irreverent romp through the culinary foibles of the world's greatest movie stars, artists, musicians, writers and well, nuts. The really good news is that you can sample some of their tantalizing treats with the unique recipes that are supplied. For chocolate lovers, "Andy Warholian Chocolate Soup" recipe is a must try! -- Andrew F. Smith, culinary historian
Book Information
ISBN 9781442252257
Author Fiona Ross
Format Hardback
Page Count 258
Imprint Rowman & Littlefield
Publisher Rowman & Littlefield
Weight(grams) 508g
Dimensions(mm) 238mm * 158mm * 23mm
