Cleora's Kitchens: The Memoir of a Cook & Eight Decades of Great American Food

by Cleora Butler

When Barbara Haber, curator of Radcliffe College's 4000-volume cookbook library, was asked by The Boston Globe to name her favorite book in that famous collection, she picked Cleora's Kitchens. Why? "Because," Ms. Haber said, "it expresses, through food, joy…you have the connection of food being celebratory in truly meaningful ways. Just wonderful stuff."

Genres: Cookbooks, Memoir, Cooking, Food History

224 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1986

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Such an important book. I very much enjoyed the memoir portion of the book. A glimpse into the life of a Black woman in Oklahoma in the 20th century, told in her own words. I would have loved to hear so much more about her life. The recipes are also a really interesting window into food trends over the decades.

[Libraryassistant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably 3-1/2, but I really liked her. And a nice perspective on a part of early twentieth century history I had never heard of. More about the history for me than most of the recipes but she puts the recipes into context, and you see her growth and willingness to learn and try new foods over a long life.

[Vanessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The subject matter of the book is so interesting. I just wish they would have done a better job delivering. It’s a really minimal amount of history, which I would’ve preferred more of, but there are a lot of recipes in here which is interesting.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mouthwatering recipes throughout most of the 20th century.

[Beccy Fike · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wonderful book is now out of print but can often be found on Amazon, eBay or from used book dealers -- and it is so worth the search! Not simply a cookbook (though the recipes are amazing), this is a delightful and impressively historical memoir of perhaps the most famous and influential Oklahoma cook. Cleora Butler came to Indian Territory in a covered wagon with her parents, both of whom were former slaves. Her life is a story of courage, hope, hard work and compassion. She grew up in Muskogee, then spent her adult years in Tulsa. For many years, she was a live-in cook for wealthy oil barons and eventually opened her own eatery and catering business -- the favorite of Tulsa's high society. If you've ever had Baked Fudge, it was likely Cleora's recipe. This book is a treasured volume of her recipes and her recollections and is a most valuable and delicious read.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading books about food and a person's relationship/history with it. (Especially if there are recipes included.) This book had lots of recipes and some great history and stories. My only criticism is that I was left wanting more. I really wanted to hear more about her life as a black cook in a very volatile time. The stories included were wonderful. So wonderful, in fact, that I just wanted more.