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🔪 Methods & Techniques

A Book Of Scents And Dishes (A Vintage Cookery Books Classic)

✍️ Allhusen, Dorothy
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$32.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A 1920s charity cookbook featuring aristocratic recipes for food and household scents.

Allhusen’s work stands as a historical record of upper-class domesticity rather than a practical guide for modern kitchens. The inclusion of non-culinary sections on soaps and potpourri highlights the interconnected nature of household management in the early twentieth century. The structure moves logically from savory staples to sweet treats, then to beverages and finally to decorative and cleaning items. This organization reflects the priorities of the era, where scent and presentation were as important as sustenance. The book offers a window into the specific ingredients and methods used by wealthy families who contributed to this charitable cause.

Key Themes
aristocratic recipes charity publication household scents
Literary Context

Published in 2006 by Vintage Cookery Books, this edition reprints a 1920s charity cookbook. It preserves the original text and artwork from a period when early twentieth-century domestic life relied on contributions from aristocratic families for charitable causes.

Difficulty
● Easy
Recommended For Fans Of
The Joy of Cooking · Mastering the Art of French Cooking · The Fannie Farmer Cookbook
🔪
Methods & Techniques
🏛 Vintage Cookery Books 📅 2006 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781406798401

📝 Description: A Book Of Scents And Dishes (A Vintage Cookery Books Classic)

Dorothy Allhusen compiled A Book Of Scents And Dishes in the 1920s by gathering recipes from aristocratic families for a charity publication. This Vintage Cookery Books edition preserves the original text and artwork, offering a glimpse into early twentieth-century domestic life. The volume covers a wide array of culinary topics, beginning with foundational elements like soups, sauces, and fish. It progresses through substantial main courses including meat, poultry, game, and vegetables, alongside savouries and dishes featuring eggs, cream, and porridge. The book also details sweet preparations such as puddings, cakes, jams, preserves, and confectionary, along with breads like scones, buns, and biscuits. Readers will find sections dedicated to beverages including wines, tea, and other drinks, as well as specialized content for children's food. Beyond the kitchen, Allhusen includes practical household guides on potpourri and soaps, providing a holistic view of domestic management during that era. The volume concludes with bills of fare and an index for easy reference. This collection suits historians and collectors interested in vintage culinary traditions and aristocratic lifestyle documentation. It may not appeal to those seeking modern nutritional guidelines or contemporary cooking techniques. The text remains a specific artifact of its time, reflecting the tastes and resources of the period it documents without alteration.

💎 Expert review

“
🍳
Eatbook Family editorial team
Cookbook desk
This collection offers a fascinating window into early twentieth century aristocratic domesticity. It effectively documents how scent and presentation were prioritized alongside food preparation in wealthy households. The logical structure moving from savory dishes to cleaning items provides valuable context for historical household management. However, it is not a practical guide for modern kitchens. Readers seeking actionable recipes or contemporary cooking methods will find little utility here. It is best viewed as a cultural artifact rather than a functional culinary resource.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Eatbook Family —
⭐ eatbookfamily.com editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5
★★★★★
This volume suits history enthusiasts and collectors of vintage domestic literature who appreciate early twentieth century upper class lifestyle details. It is ideal for readers seeking a glimpse into aristocratic household management rather than those needing practical modern cooking instructions…

Reader rating

4.4
Based on 1 reviews
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Eatbook Family editorial team

This collection offers a fascinating window into early twentieth century aristocratic domesticity. It effectively documents how scent and presentation were prioritized alongside food preparation in wealthy households. The logical structure moving from savory dishes to cleaning items provides valuable context for historical household management. However, it is not a practical guide for modern kitchens. Readers seeking actionable recipes or contemporary cooking methods will find little utility here. It is best viewed as a cultural artifact rather than a functional culinary resource.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No, it serves as a historical record of upper class domesticity and includes non culinary sections on soaps and potpourri rather than functioning as a practical guide for contemporary kitchens.
268 pages, paperback.
Published in 2006 by Vintage Cookery Books.
Orders ship from a US warehouse. The shipping cost is shown before you pay, and returns are accepted within 30 days.

📖 Who should read this

This volume suits history enthusiasts and collectors of vintage domestic literature who appreciate early twentieth century upper class lifestyle details. It is ideal for readers seeking a glimpse into aristocratic household management rather than those needing practical modern cooking instructions or contemporary culinary techniques.

📜 Historical context

Published in the 1920s as a charity initiative, this work documents the domestic priorities of wealthy families during that era. It serves as a historical record of upper class life, blending culinary arts with household scent creation. The text reflects a time when presentation and olfactory appeal held equal weight to basic sustenance in elite home management.

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