Mrs. Whaley Entertains: Advice, Opinions, and 100 Recipes from a Charleston Kitchen

by Emily Whaley, William P. Baldwin III

Book by Whaley, Emily, Baldwin, William

Genres: Food, Memoir

344 pages, Hardcover

First published January 10, 1998

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

In many ways this book was fun, a look into "how the other 5% lives." Grand dame Emily Wheatley of Charleston was a famous gardener and hostess; I hesitate to say cook because she apparently employed a lot of help. I enjoyed the section where the family decamps to the North Carolina mountains during the summer's heat and the description of the family breakfast with a cook in the kitchen and two dining room servants. The excerpt on how to give a house party was equally entertaining. Half the book was recipes, and I think a number of them were out of date. How often does one find a 5-7lb roasting chicken in our stores these days? I suspect I could make lots more yummy recipes if I had someone in the kitchen doing most of the work.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved her personal stories. I wanted to try out her recipes but just didn’t get to it before I had to return the book. Maybe if I really knew how good they were.

[amy l swann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such entertaining reading! Mrs. Whaley takes you back to a different time and it is a marvelous trip.
The recipes are the icing on the Baltimore Cake!

[Darcee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and funny little read. Good recipes in the back ! Have to go to Charleston now !!

[Elizabeth Van Tassel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how I wish I'd known Mrs. Whaley! I love her books and they encourage me to enjoy the simplicity of making a meal, preparing for company, and the beauty of a simple lifestyle accented with grace. My favorite tip of hers is getting everything ready well in advance of a guest's arrival or a dinner party, although I admit with kids under foot that's a bit more rare now. Still, I love to enjoy the moment rather than be glued to the oven when I entertain. Her sense of elegance is beautiful, too. You will enjoy this small but gracious book.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many recipes to try, especially curious about the thin, cornmeal pancakes that she ate as a child, her shrimp and hominy, the Lady Baltimore cake and the White Mountain icing.

[Julie Durnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book filled with the slow southern way of life and cooking!

[Kathleen Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming with a Southern flair. Would love to be a guest of hers!