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Monet's Cookery Notebooks
Claude Monet lived in his beautiful house at Giverny for over 40 years, from 1883 until his death in 1926. Here he painted so many of his best-loved and most famous works, and here, with his second wife Alice Hoschede, he created the home and life-style that are so sumptuously portrayed in this book. Today the house, studios and gardens have been faithfully restored, and attract thousands of visitors every year.
Family meals, special celebrations, luncheons with friends, picnics - all reflected the Monets' love of good food, combining superb ingredients from their beautiful walled kitchen-garden and from the Normandy countryside. In this book Clair Joyes, a leading authority on Monet and his work, provides a richly detailed picture of his private life, and combines it with Jean-Bernard Naudin's suburb photographic recreations of the meals at Giverny.
In addition the book contains over 150 recipes drawn from Monet's own notebooks, many of them also beautifully photographed. The result is an incomparable insight into the lost world of the greatest of all Impressionist painters.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published May 15, 1990
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 9, 2016
I believe that to do anything great, one must do everything well. Or at least strive to do everything well. This book, light reading, underscores that notion. Gardening, dress, setting a table, preparing a menu, etc, had Monet's touch upon it. If you cook, read. If you garden, read. If you seek in any way to live an elevated life, read. Can't hurt. Four stars because the book does what it intends, and does it well.
November 26, 2013
A Cook's Paradise.
As a lover of the Impressionist movement, I felt compelled to make the pilgrimage to the house of Claude Monet located a few miles north of Paris in the small town of Giverny, Normandy. Monet's refuge is a shrine of the art world renowned for its beautiful and expansive garden filled with flowers, trees, a lake and its famous bridge.
When I entered Monet's home, the dining room made a strong impression upon me: large, very inviting and splashed in yellow as if Monet had tried to capture the strong summer sun to overcome the cloudy winter days of Normandy. The table for twelve was tastefully set with blue and white china with a centerpiece of dazzling fresh flowers, as if beckoning its guests to prepare for a savory adventure to be accompanied by lively discussion. As I passed through the dining room into the kitchen, I noticed that the old, black oven fitted with brass trim and graced with copper pots and pans was still capable of generating warmth, even if the fire went out of it long ago. It was at that moment that I decided to purchase "Monet's Table: The Cooking Journals of Claude Monet", and I have reaped far more from this book than the French francs I had traded in return.
In an interview published on November 26, 1900, in "Le Temps", Claude Monet declared "I am a Parisian of Paris. I was born there in 1840, ... I was born incapable of being disciplined. No one was ever able to make me stick to the rules, not even in my youngest days." Despite this boastful protestation, I am of the personal opinion after having studied his art, visited his home and read books and journals about the artist, that he was, if not disciplined, then certainly dedicated and devoted to the creation of the sensory arts of painting and fine dining in their truest form. These qualities are beautifully illustrated in this beautiful cookbook featuring 160 recipes of Monet's best-loved dishes such as Cezanne's bouillabaisse, Coquilles Saint-Jacques a la Florentine, Lobster Newburg, duck pate', chestnut soufflé, crepes made with Cognac, orange and almond cake and even banana ice cream. The book is comfortably divided into sections including soups, egg dishes, entrees, poultry, meat, game, seafood, desserts and conserves. I personally appreciate the range of simplicity to complexity offered by these recipes that enable me to select from those that are easy and fast to prepare and those that require more time and ingredients, depending upon the time I wish to allot. What I most enjoy sharing with my family and friends is the old world taste and richness of the dishes offered by this book that you do not readily find in most cookbooks. As an added and unexpected bonus, I am transported to a beautiful part of our world, rich in its history and creative in its many art forms that live on in my memory through this book.
The Preface was written in the form of a dedication to Claude Monet in May 1989 by Joel Robuchon, the Jamin Restaurant Chef de Cuisine. He researched the notebook of recipes kept and used by the Monet family for their family meals as well as those prepared for such noteworthy guests as Clemenceau, Renoir, Pissaro, Durand-Ruel and others. Mr. Robuchon adapted these turn of the 19th century recipes to accommodate modern day kitchen equipment that was unavailable at that time. His Preface ends with his grateful appreciation to Mr. Monet for all of his discovery, his generosity, his artistically beautiful and excellent tasting recipes which were a testament to authentic cuisine of the period, and lastly, for Mr. Monet's legacy to us of living art of every day life. The photography by Jean-Bernard Naudin is excellent. He was assisted by the stylist Nanou Billault in recreating the meals served at Monet's home; however, the subjects of his photography in this book exceed the replication of beautiful recipes such as foie gras truffe' en croute (foie gras encased in a crust) and oignons blancs farcis de Charlotte Lyses (stuffed white onions incorporating Gruyere cheese, fresh herbs, and roast pork or chicken). There are photographs of hand-written recipes on paper yellowed with age, framed by broken edges and stained by life's usage; "la sorbietiere" or the "ice pail" to make the traditional banana ice cream on Christmas Day; Monet's famed kitchen, dining room and studio; baskets filled with wild mushrooms; a picnic table on the grass under an apple tree; and, of course, photos of many of Monet's paintings, such as Le Petit Dejeuner painted in 1868, Le Dejeuner Sur L'Herbe painted in 1865, and Les Galettes. For devotees of the artist as well as history buffs, there are also some wonderful original photographs of Monet, including photos of the painter in his car leaving for his weekly trip to the market, in his garden with family members as they greeted the first American painters to his home, and in the company of Georges Clemenceau, former French prime minister, mayor of Mont Martre, author and teacher, in June 1921 on the Japanese bridge surrounded by wisteria.
The photography of Monet's garden is nothing short of breathtaking. I found myself lulled into daydreaming especially while browsing through the photos of the winter scenes of Monet's garden. One picture displaying the hues of green, blue and icy gray features Monet's lake surrounded by trees, bushes and tall blades of grass laced with frost. By the landing, there is a lonely rowboat on this mirrored lake with two paddles beckoning you as a passerby to come closer and fill the emptiness created by the chill of winter. As you turn the page to another beautiful winter scene, you can see the renown pink and white house with its vine-covered trellis in the background, and the forefront dominated by the landscaping filled with trees and their green leaves, shrubs, arches and even pink roses, all of which seem to be completely taken by surprise with the early frost clinging to the pink flowers and green leaves as though they were dusted with sugar crystals. I treasure this book as much for the memories of my visit to Monet's house and garden as for its insight into the realm of Monet including his time honored recipes.
As a lover of the Impressionist movement, I felt compelled to make the pilgrimage to the house of Claude Monet located a few miles north of Paris in the small town of Giverny, Normandy. Monet's refuge is a shrine of the art world renowned for its beautiful and expansive garden filled with flowers, trees, a lake and its famous bridge.
When I entered Monet's home, the dining room made a strong impression upon me: large, very inviting and splashed in yellow as if Monet had tried to capture the strong summer sun to overcome the cloudy winter days of Normandy. The table for twelve was tastefully set with blue and white china with a centerpiece of dazzling fresh flowers, as if beckoning its guests to prepare for a savory adventure to be accompanied by lively discussion. As I passed through the dining room into the kitchen, I noticed that the old, black oven fitted with brass trim and graced with copper pots and pans was still capable of generating warmth, even if the fire went out of it long ago. It was at that moment that I decided to purchase "Monet's Table: The Cooking Journals of Claude Monet", and I have reaped far more from this book than the French francs I had traded in return.
In an interview published on November 26, 1900, in "Le Temps", Claude Monet declared "I am a Parisian of Paris. I was born there in 1840, ... I was born incapable of being disciplined. No one was ever able to make me stick to the rules, not even in my youngest days." Despite this boastful protestation, I am of the personal opinion after having studied his art, visited his home and read books and journals about the artist, that he was, if not disciplined, then certainly dedicated and devoted to the creation of the sensory arts of painting and fine dining in their truest form. These qualities are beautifully illustrated in this beautiful cookbook featuring 160 recipes of Monet's best-loved dishes such as Cezanne's bouillabaisse, Coquilles Saint-Jacques a la Florentine, Lobster Newburg, duck pate', chestnut soufflé, crepes made with Cognac, orange and almond cake and even banana ice cream. The book is comfortably divided into sections including soups, egg dishes, entrees, poultry, meat, game, seafood, desserts and conserves. I personally appreciate the range of simplicity to complexity offered by these recipes that enable me to select from those that are easy and fast to prepare and those that require more time and ingredients, depending upon the time I wish to allot. What I most enjoy sharing with my family and friends is the old world taste and richness of the dishes offered by this book that you do not readily find in most cookbooks. As an added and unexpected bonus, I am transported to a beautiful part of our world, rich in its history and creative in its many art forms that live on in my memory through this book.
The Preface was written in the form of a dedication to Claude Monet in May 1989 by Joel Robuchon, the Jamin Restaurant Chef de Cuisine. He researched the notebook of recipes kept and used by the Monet family for their family meals as well as those prepared for such noteworthy guests as Clemenceau, Renoir, Pissaro, Durand-Ruel and others. Mr. Robuchon adapted these turn of the 19th century recipes to accommodate modern day kitchen equipment that was unavailable at that time. His Preface ends with his grateful appreciation to Mr. Monet for all of his discovery, his generosity, his artistically beautiful and excellent tasting recipes which were a testament to authentic cuisine of the period, and lastly, for Mr. Monet's legacy to us of living art of every day life. The photography by Jean-Bernard Naudin is excellent. He was assisted by the stylist Nanou Billault in recreating the meals served at Monet's home; however, the subjects of his photography in this book exceed the replication of beautiful recipes such as foie gras truffe' en croute (foie gras encased in a crust) and oignons blancs farcis de Charlotte Lyses (stuffed white onions incorporating Gruyere cheese, fresh herbs, and roast pork or chicken). There are photographs of hand-written recipes on paper yellowed with age, framed by broken edges and stained by life's usage; "la sorbietiere" or the "ice pail" to make the traditional banana ice cream on Christmas Day; Monet's famed kitchen, dining room and studio; baskets filled with wild mushrooms; a picnic table on the grass under an apple tree; and, of course, photos of many of Monet's paintings, such as Le Petit Dejeuner painted in 1868, Le Dejeuner Sur L'Herbe painted in 1865, and Les Galettes. For devotees of the artist as well as history buffs, there are also some wonderful original photographs of Monet, including photos of the painter in his car leaving for his weekly trip to the market, in his garden with family members as they greeted the first American painters to his home, and in the company of Georges Clemenceau, former French prime minister, mayor of Mont Martre, author and teacher, in June 1921 on the Japanese bridge surrounded by wisteria.
The photography of Monet's garden is nothing short of breathtaking. I found myself lulled into daydreaming especially while browsing through the photos of the winter scenes of Monet's garden. One picture displaying the hues of green, blue and icy gray features Monet's lake surrounded by trees, bushes and tall blades of grass laced with frost. By the landing, there is a lonely rowboat on this mirrored lake with two paddles beckoning you as a passerby to come closer and fill the emptiness created by the chill of winter. As you turn the page to another beautiful winter scene, you can see the renown pink and white house with its vine-covered trellis in the background, and the forefront dominated by the landscaping filled with trees and their green leaves, shrubs, arches and even pink roses, all of which seem to be completely taken by surprise with the early frost clinging to the pink flowers and green leaves as though they were dusted with sugar crystals. I treasure this book as much for the memories of my visit to Monet's house and garden as for its insight into the realm of Monet including his time honored recipes.
May 13, 2021
While he is not my favorite painter by a long shot (I'm not a huge fan of Impressionism generally), I have long been fascinated by Monet as a character and especially by his life at Giverny. This book was a pure indulgence in that fascination. I enjoyed basking in all the hazy, golden photos in this book, but I found the text to be startlingly lacking in proper editing. It was all over the place, content-wise and formally. It will still be a lovely meander for those who enjoy 1980's book design and grumpy bearded men.
November 27, 2017
Fun glimpse into life in Monet's Giverny. After reading this I want yellow splashes in my dining room, a folding picnic table always stored in my car, and decanted champagne (is that a verb). I am not big on eating game but the cheeses and a lot of the side dishes I may give a go. There is a particularly interesting recipe for stuffed onions....
June 12, 2011
Added Pain de Genes to my baking list to try soon. I owned this book several years ago but didn't have the patience then to read or cook from it. Sadly, I had to sell it during one of our many moves. I was delightfully surprised to discover it once again on the shelf at the library. I enjoyed the first half of the book, tales of Monet's life and idiosyncrasies about food and dining. There were nice stills of food, Giverny, and Monet and family through out. I think I'll look for a more biographical book on Monet and some of the other plein air painters to add to my to-read list.
December 12, 2020
Beautiful pictures accompany the recipes.
May 6, 2023
What a lovely book. A book to drool over. It is a lifelong goal to go to Giverny, where Monet lived and painted. This book includes lovely photography of his home and and stories of how he entertained. Part biography and part cookbook, it includes many, many recipes. I want to cook everything. (Well, almost everything! Some don't mesh with my kashrut.) The recipes are in American measurements. However, every now and then I read something that made me wonder if this book was written in French and translated. It is also clear that Monet had a every robust entertaining schedule and a high standard of how to entertain--which sometimes he could afford and sometimes he could not. However, it seems to me that there is too much name dropping in the book. And there is a real tension between who are truly in the "in-group" and who doesn't measure up. I found those details unnecessary.
November 9, 2019
I want to own this book!
September 28, 2021
Interesting story of Monet's life followed by a cookbook. I have visited his house and found the book a bit interesting.
January 11, 2023
Loved it. I believe this is the first cookbook I've ever had (and I've had hundreds) where I read the entire book as opposed to paging through the recipes.
January 2, 2025
Half biographical, half cook book of staple Monet family recipes. I plan to start cooking my way through them now that I've read the book.
June 22, 2021
I love this book. I hadn't read it in awhile. There are intimate pictures and stories of the life of Claude Monet and his family at Giverny. There are lots of pictures and paintings by Monet in the book, but the most important part of Monet's Table is food that was eaten and the recipes that were saved. The author has made the recipes suitable for today's cooking and eating. Monet was very particular about the meals served at the house and the picnics that family and friends went on. Monet and his second wife, Alice, joined Monet and his 2 children to form a new home at Giverny. I love how, we the reader, get a glimpse into how the dining table, kitchen, and gardens were so important to not only the art world and visitors to Giverny, but how the family and shopping evolved from the end of the 19th century to the early decades of the 20th century.
November 19, 2013
I really enjoyed this window into Monet's life at Giverny. As a lover of historical recipes, tableware, table settings, and etiquette; I found this book fascinating. The photographs are a great mix of vintage and new. The first chapters are historical, and the end of the book includes recipes from his journals, which have been updated for current times. The insight into Monet's private life with family and friends was intriguing and made me wish I could've shared lunch with him and the many famous artists and writers who were frequently his guests.
May 4, 2012
Love this book. Not so much those recipes, too much butter, too much bread, too much sugar and flour. I am on a diet and these recipes are to die for. I will have to wait to cook some of these but... I will.
Totally a different book, exposing Monet's personal life, which was exquisite and I assume happy. I think it is something you can deduct from his paintings.
A brief book, I would recommend to keep yourself entertained one complete afternoon.
Totally a different book, exposing Monet's personal life, which was exquisite and I assume happy. I think it is something you can deduct from his paintings.
A brief book, I would recommend to keep yourself entertained one complete afternoon.
January 22, 2008
I'm a huge fan of the Impressionists and hope to go to France within the year so this book is close to my heart. I'm fascinated with Monet's passion for art in all of its forms--through food, painting, gardening, and living well. I'm also a "foodie" who enjoys trying new recipes, so much so that I read cookbooks in my spare time! This one is a delight to the palate and the eye.
June 22, 2009
Monet's Table is perhaps my favorite cookbook. It blends art, architecture, stories, biography, and recipes into one amazing volume. I know I'll never have my own carp pond just outside the kitchen door so that I can prepare fresh fish at my whim (not sure I want to cook or eat carp), but the book itself is fascinating and includes some viable recipes for the 21st century American amateur.
June 20, 2015
Many beautiful pictures of Giverny, covering the gardens, the inside of the house, the town, the pond and more. Lots of fantastic recipes and table settings. Lot the book especially since I spent a day there...and would do so again if I ever get the chance.
September 26, 2007
this is my favorite cookbook. it has lovely pictures, and a green pistachio cake that i've always wanted to make but haven't yet, and renoir's recipie for soup.
January 31, 2008
my favourite cookbook, combining both my joys, france and impressionist art
March 7, 2009
artsy and yummy! attempting to socially redeem bad food habits, but great recpies!
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October 4, 2010Transports me back to Giverny
April 19, 2011
There wasn't much in here that I personally wanted to cook; but it was an interesting read.
July 29, 2011
GREAT sorrel soup recipe, as well as a good historical read
January 18, 2013
I'm taking my time--really enjoying this book. The pictures and culinary history of this famous French family is very interesting.
January 1, 2022
Very interesting read about the artist's culinary life. The recipes look wonderful-- especially the rabbit pate & duck pie. Oh and the desserts! Nice addition to my historical cooking library.
February 19, 2008
Very pretty book...very interesting side of Monet...very good recipes! Different.
June 27, 2012
Title kind of deceiving, no real journals. But fun to read and great photos. Enjoyed.
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February 1, 2019641.5944 J896 1989
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews