About the Book:
Ever wish you could mix an Old Fashioned just the way Don Draper likes it? Or prepare Oysters Rockefeller and a martini the way they did fifty years ago at one of Roger Sterling’s favorite haunts, The Grand Central Oyster Bar? Ever wonder how Joan Harris manages to prepare a perfect crown roast in her tiny apartment kitchen? Or about the connection between Jackie Kennedy’s 1962 White House tour and Betty Draper’s Valentine’s Day room service order?
The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook serves up more than 70 recipes to satisfy a Mad Men appetite! From the tables of Manhattan’s most legendary restaurants and bars to the Drapers’ Around the World dinner, this book is your entrée to the culinary world of Man Men-era New York.
Packed with period detail, The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook provides invaluable historical and cultural context for the food and drink featured in the show, tips on throwing a successful ’60s cocktail party, and even a guide to favored Mad Men hangouts. Every recipe inside is authentic to the time.
My Thoughts:
Since I don’t follow the show I was very entertained with the stories about the different episodes. Authors Judy Gelman and Peter Zheutlin have done a truly remarkable job of finding some great recipes from the 60s. There are some that I never even heard of. Each recipe is preceded by a description of an episode from Mad Men, setting the scene and explaining how the cocktail, appetizer or entrée was featured on the show. We are then oftentimes given background on how the recipe was developed, where it originally was created, and if possible the location of the restaurant today (if it is still business.) There are nearly 70 recipes such as Kitty’s Pineapple Upside-Down Cake and Joan’s Stuff Crown Roast. All in all it was a really great book.
Purchase the Book:
You can purchase The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook at Amazon.
Mary Beth Elderton says
I don’t follow this show either, but I’d love to get a look at this cookbook. I’m a child of the 60’s and remember the days. I think it would be great fun to revisit the recipes. I’ll bet there are many that would be familiar. I wonder how many I used to know and have forgotten?
Wendy T says
This is a great idea! Now I want some Oysters Rockefeller 🙂
I am going to put this on my list!
Betty Baez says
Man hubby would love this!
Rust says
This is a must-have for my son now that he is cooking on his own …and Mad Men is one of his favorite shows. I know he’d love to add this book to his cookbook collection!
Karen Glatt says
This cookbook sounds so interesting! I do not follow the show either, but I like to make different dishes, and some of the dishes you mentioned sound interesting to make. I would think that this would be a good cookbook to give a loved one for Christmas!
andrejka says
hope I will find this book translated, itˇs great idea!!
ellen beck says
I think I have seen the show once but it conflicted with something else that was either on or something I had to do. Back ‘in the day’ pineapple upside down cake was a big deal to have. My Mom always made it for the Holidays and I remember it well 🙂