Is There a Nutmeg in the House? Essays on Practical Cooking with More Than 150 Recipes

by Jill Norman

Presents a collection of essays on the practical aspects of food and eating along with 150 recipes.

Genres: Food, Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food Writing, Essays, Cult Classics

352 pages, Hardcover

First published October 26, 2000

About the author

Jill created the Penguin Cookery Library in the 1960s and 1970s, bringing many first-class authors to the list. She has since become a Glenfiddich trophy winner in her own right, and is a leading authority on the use of herbs and spices. She is the literary trustee of the Elizabeth David estate, and worked with Mrs David for many years.

Reviews

[Catullus2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can anyone else write as brilliantly about food as Elizabeth David? Nope.

[Lisa Lawless · Rating 3 out of 5]

After selecting articles to be collected in the anthology An Omelette and a Glass of Wine, some of the unused pieces were saved. This book is the collection of those set aside articles. Some are more interesting than others, but the good ones are real gems. The descriptions of several, simple courgette dishes were intriguing. Her Hand-Made Mayonnaise story is precise, amusing, and makes me want to make mayonnaise. Baking an English Loaf goes into great detail and encourages everyone to read a few simple instructions and make a decent loaf of bread. She could be sassy. I'm glad Elizabeth David was crazy about food and shared so much info in her many article and books.

[Marjorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy her no nonsense tone. I found the history of many of the recipes interesting and many of the recipes would be worth a try. The cover is beautiful but not nutmegs! "Someone" should write a biography of this woman who led a full and varied life.

[Marguerite Hargreaves · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like opinionated food people, but this is very dated. And, fusty.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quotable:

When something was lacking in my kitchen, which was just about every time anyone came to dinner, Suleiman would borrow it form some grander establishment. All Cairo cooks did likewise. Thus a dinner guest was quite likely to recognize his own plates, cutlery or serving dishes on my table. Nobody commented on this familiar custom.

“In the seventeenth century sex had not yet been singled out as the sin par excellence, it was merely one among many failings, and Aubrey no more thought of concealing it than he dreamed of avoiding the mention of gluttony or drunkenness.” Or, it might be added, the presence of “lice in one’s head.” –Aubrey’s brief lives by Oliver Dick Larson

Authors who claim to write history and fail to cite sources can hardly expect to be taken seriously.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you consider yourself part of Team Elizabeth David and want to read from the wider repertoire of her work beyond her seminal texts then this is for you. For myself, eh, not that remarkable. Many of the pieces were ‘Unpublished’, I can see why. I have to mention that perhaps the large point annoyed me to the point that it seemed to encapsulate the entire book. That said she has good points and some of her recipes seem worth a try, others- dated.

[Adam Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great selection of writing from the one of the finest writers on food.

[Dorian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Elizabeth David was a cookery writer who apparently revolutionised British cooking after the Second World War by writing about Mediterranean food. So she's sort of the grand-daddy of them all, seminal influence, blah blah blah. Unfortunately, I really didn't get on with this collection of articles by her. I found her writing had a distinct undertone of "I'm trying to educate you stupid plebs; why aren't you listening!" which was rather off-putting, and if she had a sense of humour, it was not allowed out when she was writing. The librarian who dug the book out of storage for me informed me cheerfully that the last time anyone had wanted it was 2003. As far as I'm concerned it can go back into storage until 3003 (at which point it will perhaps be a useful primary source for social historians).

(Also, her reasons for objecting to the humble garlic press are entirely idiotic.)

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I was going to be anyone else, I'd like to be Elizabeth David (with the looks of Vivien Leigh). I want her life, her exotic travels, her ability to rustle up wonderful picnics and dishes and describe them in words without being too gushy and foodie about it all. She's dry, sharp, sensuous and no-nonsense. This is a lovely book to dip into, especially on a Mediterranean holiday. It's more than just recipes - it's also a collection of articles she published in magazines and papers over the years - with wonderfully pithy titles like 'Garlic presses are utterly useless'.

[Mary-Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found the writing dull and the collection a bit disconnected. I disliked the pushy tone of the writer and did more skimming than reading.

Description:
Newly collected writings from one of the 20th century's most influential food writers. Recipes from all over the world are annotated and presented in between loosley-arranged articles on food topics. Known as the grand dame of the kitchen, David has strong opinions and is not afraid to express them.

[Roz Dibley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Elizabeth David's writing. This book is a selection of a number of her essays with some more enjoyable that others. I also love the way she writes recipes and has no pictures of the food. Would recommend to anyone.

[Miranda Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully crafted

[Chris]

Her writing is always so good. I'll probably never make one of her recipes but she's like having a very erudite friend over to dinner.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sequel to An Omelette and a Glass of Wine. Very readable. Recipes.

[Romi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth David wrote as if she knew that she was the doyenne-to-be. This inspired me whennthe ingredients were still impossible to obtain!

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars for the recipes, and the lovely, if highly opinionated, descriptions of places and a way of life now mostly gone.

[Diane in Australia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars = Okay. I liked the book. It was worth reading.