It is the Esquire Cook-Book published in 1955 and illustrated beautifully by American illustrator Bill Charmatz. Charmatz was known for his editorial sketches, and was featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Sports Illustrated, and of course, Esquire Magazine.
He passed away in 2005 at the age of 80, but this wonderful book provides such a quirky look into recipes catered towards men... in the fifties!
I love this image of the poor fellow fretting over what he sees on the scale, while being surrounded by thoughts of all these tempting treats!
Like any typical recipe book, this one is organized with appetizers, types of meat, dishes for entertaining, etc. I love how this tuxedo-clad gent is kicking up his feet in anticipation for his party.
This book is going for big bucks on etsy, with some sellers pricing it at almost $70! I sure am glad I plucked it out of the free bin - it may have been destined for the dump otherwise.
There's also a neat centrefold set of drawings teaching the readers about butcher cuts of meat - my photos don't do them justice - they are worthy of framing and putting up in the kitchen!
Linking up to Vintage Thingie Thursday!
UPDATE: For some reason, blogger won't let me comment on my own posts...! Rest assured I am enjoying your lovely comments, but unfortunately I can't respond to them (this glitch has been going on all week). I'll keep trying; in the meantime, please keep leaving me your thoughts!
Linking up to Vintage Thingie Thursday!
UPDATE: For some reason, blogger won't let me comment on my own posts...! Rest assured I am enjoying your lovely comments, but unfortunately I can't respond to them (this glitch has been going on all week). I'll keep trying; in the meantime, please keep leaving me your thoughts!
Hard to believe they had a cookbook for men back in the 50's!! What a find!
ReplyDeleteA very nice Cookbook find. What I liked, you researched and gave us some history. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great find! I love the old illustrations- so much fun!
ReplyDeleteGreat illustrations!
ReplyDeleteFun book. My dad must have been "avant garde" for he has cooked through my entire life and is still carrying on at 82.
ReplyDeleteYou found a great book! I love vintage cookbooks and this book has the most awesome illustrations! A keeper for sure! hugs, Linda
ReplyDeleteAwesome cookbook, great illustrations too... :-)
ReplyDeleteSCORE!!! Love the illustrations, and free!?! Jealous!
ReplyDeleteLove this!! Happy VTT!
ReplyDeletethose meat cute illustrations are amazing!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous book, love it!
ReplyDeleteLove the graphics. I need to keep an eye out for this book now. So glad you rescued it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous book. Onto my wish list it goes...
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the comments, it looks like I can actually add my own now too! Yes, the butcher drawings were enough to reel me in, but the whole book is just full of these gorgeous illustrations!
ReplyDeleteI've seen some copies of these go for pretty cheap on Ebay. I wonder if people cut them up and frame the illustrations.
Oh I love this - fantastic. So interesting to see a vintage cookbook aimed at men - Mad Men suggests it was either 'Your mum cooks', 'Your wife cooks' or 'You eat out'.
ReplyDeleteThe illustrations are amazing, what a brilliant find.
Haha, I do wonder about the fellow who would have bought this book. Some of the recipes are fairly complex, but it's presented in a fun and entertaining way. I guess it was targetted at readers of Esquire magazine!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic cookbook. I adore vintage cookbooks. I can hardly wait until our city's annual book sale in just two more weeks!!
ReplyDeleteI found this book at the local Goodwill and love it too! mine is minus the jacket, but you are right about the illustrations. What I really like was that so many of the recipes have no measurements (apparently a bon vivant couldn't be bothered with such petty details).
ReplyDelete