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Roald Dahl's Cookbook
This book is a mixture of anecdotes covering Roald Dahl's family, his childhood, and his happiness at home with Liccy, his wife, and their numerous children, grandchildren and friends. For this extensive family, there is no more enjoyable way of relaxing than sharing good food and wine. The meals they enjoy together round the old pine farmhouse table at Gipsey House are either fine examples of national dishes of their heritage - Norwegian, French, British, etc - or favourite recipes that have delighted three generations of discerning eaters.
Paperback
First published November 7, 1996
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About the author
Roald Dahl
1,470 books26.6k followersRoald Dahl was a beloved British author, poet, screenwriter, and wartime fighter pilot, best known for his enchanting and often darkly humorous children's books that have captivated generations of readers around the world. Born in Llandaff, Wales, to Norwegian parents, Dahl led a life marked by adventure, tragedy, creativity, and enduring literary success. His vivid imagination and distinctive storytelling style have made him one of the most celebrated children's authors in modern literature.
Before becoming a writer, Dahl lived a life filled with excitement and hardship. He served as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II, surviving a near-fatal crash in the Libyan desert. His wartime experiences and travels deeply influenced his storytelling, often infusing his works with a sense of danger, resilience, and the triumph of the underdog. After the war, he began writing for both adults and children, showing a rare versatility that spanned genres and age groups.
Dahl's children's books are known for their playful use of language, unforgettable characters, and a deep sense of justice, often pitting clever children against cruel or foolish adults. Some of his most iconic titles include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox, and The Witches. These works are filled with fantastical elements and moral undertones, empowering young readers to challenge authority, think independently, and believe in the impossible.
Equally acclaimed for his work for adults, Dahl wrote numerous short stories characterized by their macabre twists and dark humor. His stories were frequently published in magazines such as The New Yorker and later compiled into bestselling collections like Someone Like You and Kiss Kiss. He also wrote screenplays, including the James Bond film You Only Live Twice and the adaptation of Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Despite his literary success, Dahl was a complex and sometimes controversial figure, known for his strong opinions and difficult personality. Nonetheless, his books continue to be treasured for their wit, originality, and the sense of wonder they inspire. Many of his stories have been adapted into successful films, stage plays, and television specials, further cementing his legacy.
Dahl's impact on children's literature is immeasurable. His ability to connect with young readers through a mix of irreverence, heart, and imagination has made his stories timeless. Even after his death, his books remain in print and continue to be read by millions of children worldwide. His writing not only entertains but also encourages curiosity, courage, and compassion.
Roald Dahl's work lives on as a testament to the power of storytelling and the magic of a truly original voice. He remains a towering figure in literature whose creations continue to spark joy, mischief, and inspiration across generations.
Before becoming a writer, Dahl lived a life filled with excitement and hardship. He served as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II, surviving a near-fatal crash in the Libyan desert. His wartime experiences and travels deeply influenced his storytelling, often infusing his works with a sense of danger, resilience, and the triumph of the underdog. After the war, he began writing for both adults and children, showing a rare versatility that spanned genres and age groups.
Dahl's children's books are known for their playful use of language, unforgettable characters, and a deep sense of justice, often pitting clever children against cruel or foolish adults. Some of his most iconic titles include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox, and The Witches. These works are filled with fantastical elements and moral undertones, empowering young readers to challenge authority, think independently, and believe in the impossible.
Equally acclaimed for his work for adults, Dahl wrote numerous short stories characterized by their macabre twists and dark humor. His stories were frequently published in magazines such as The New Yorker and later compiled into bestselling collections like Someone Like You and Kiss Kiss. He also wrote screenplays, including the James Bond film You Only Live Twice and the adaptation of Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Despite his literary success, Dahl was a complex and sometimes controversial figure, known for his strong opinions and difficult personality. Nonetheless, his books continue to be treasured for their wit, originality, and the sense of wonder they inspire. Many of his stories have been adapted into successful films, stage plays, and television specials, further cementing his legacy.
Dahl's impact on children's literature is immeasurable. His ability to connect with young readers through a mix of irreverence, heart, and imagination has made his stories timeless. Even after his death, his books remain in print and continue to be read by millions of children worldwide. His writing not only entertains but also encourages curiosity, courage, and compassion.
Roald Dahl's work lives on as a testament to the power of storytelling and the magic of a truly original voice. He remains a towering figure in literature whose creations continue to spark joy, mischief, and inspiration across generations.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
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October 14, 201714/10/17
cuốn sách thần thánh của năm đây rồi, đọc tới đâu quên tới đó : )), thặc khổ tâm cho con mẹ không thích cả đồ ăn lẫn nấu ăn đọc sách về nấu ăn và thưởng thức đồ ăn
đáng lẽ t phải đọc cuốn này cùng ba của hh, đọc một hồi hai chú cháu sẽ thở dài kiu: thôi ăn bánh canh nuốt cho nhanh khỏi nhai =))
à, ngoài nguyên liệu và cách nấu t không thể nhớ nổi cái quỷ gì là cái quỷ gì thì nghe giang hồ kể chuyện đi ăn cũng zui, hãi tưởng tượng các bạn mình là nhân vật chính: poko thích ăn đủ loại bò kèm hương thảo trọn đời bên nhau, hoa xuân luôn mơ mộng về đồ ăn thích ăn bánh thích ăn kem thích ăn xôi thích ăn mì... hh ăn xong rồi vẫn đói tối tối lên skype than thở nai em đói mai em đói mốt em cũng đói, asa thích đi ăn hay hỏi mình hum nai nấm muốn ăn gì? ramen hay udon? rồi tao chọn udon thì mẻ đòi ăn ramen : )) ủa vậy là sao? chọc chỵ chữi hả? em Q ăn cho đã còn bài đặt xí xọn chụp hình pốt blog làm bao con tym thổn thức style kím hịp gọi là tịn nhăn... tạm thời nhớ mấy mẹ này mốt nhớ típ kể típ, haha
cuốn sách thần thánh của năm đây rồi, đọc tới đâu quên tới đó : )), thặc khổ tâm cho con mẹ không thích cả đồ ăn lẫn nấu ăn đọc sách về nấu ăn và thưởng thức đồ ăn
đáng lẽ t phải đọc cuốn này cùng ba của hh, đọc một hồi hai chú cháu sẽ thở dài kiu: thôi ăn bánh canh nuốt cho nhanh khỏi nhai =))
à, ngoài nguyên liệu và cách nấu t không thể nhớ nổi cái quỷ gì là cái quỷ gì thì nghe giang hồ kể chuyện đi ăn cũng zui, hãi tưởng tượng các bạn mình là nhân vật chính: poko thích ăn đủ loại bò kèm hương thảo trọn đời bên nhau, hoa xuân luôn mơ mộng về đồ ăn thích ăn bánh thích ăn kem thích ăn xôi thích ăn mì... hh ăn xong rồi vẫn đói tối tối lên skype than thở nai em đói mai em đói mốt em cũng đói, asa thích đi ăn hay hỏi mình hum nai nấm muốn ăn gì? ramen hay udon? rồi tao chọn udon thì mẻ đòi ăn ramen : )) ủa vậy là sao? chọc chỵ chữi hả? em Q ăn cho đã còn bài đặt xí xọn chụp hình pốt blog làm bao con tym thổn thức style kím hịp gọi là tịn nhăn... tạm thời nhớ mấy mẹ này mốt nhớ típ kể típ, haha
July 29, 2015
Loved it. Very heartwarming stories about food, familie and friendship. The descriptions and recipices were so good I could smell them.
Going to try some of them friday I think. The result has to be amazing.
Going to try some of them friday I think. The result has to be amazing.
April 10, 2018
What I would call old fashioned, fussy dinner party food.
Well worth it for Roald's anecdotes which was the main reason I wanted to read the book, the chapter on chocolate was one of my favourites, very informative.
Certainly not a vegetarians go to cookbook, with the likes of oxtail soup, jugged hare, roast partridge and pheasant etc, but I stick to the puddings and side vegetables.
Well worth it for Roald's anecdotes which was the main reason I wanted to read the book, the chapter on chocolate was one of my favourites, very informative.
Certainly not a vegetarians go to cookbook, with the likes of oxtail soup, jugged hare, roast partridge and pheasant etc, but I stick to the puddings and side vegetables.
August 28, 2014
Ik heb dit boek al vrij lang. Het is een prachtig boek, zeker voor mensen die Dahl als schrijver waarderen. Maar ook verder: warme anekdotes, prachtige foto' s en vooral: maakbare recepten die uit allerlei bronnen afkomstig zijn en qua stijl behoorlijk variëren. Goed vertaald ook, daar mankeert het nogal eens aan bij uit het Engels vertaalde kookboeken. Je vindt het boek regelmatig tweedehands, ik zou zeggen: meenemen dat boek, het is iedere cent waard! In het
Engels is het nog steeds verkrijgbaar, in het Nederlands niet meer.
Engels is het nog steeds verkrijgbaar, in het Nederlands niet meer.
June 2, 2010
What a lovely cookbook. It has charming stories in it about Roald Dahl, his family and friends and pictures, as well as, favorite recipes that are cooked by his family and friends. There are even some recipes from his childhood. Some of the recipes I've never seen or hear of before, such as, chicken and avocado casserole and almond soup. There are so many great recipes. Its definitely worth the money for this book.
April 20, 2010
I love this book. It transports you into the Roald and Felicity Dahl's world - the kitchen garden, beautiful photos, recipes contributed by their family and friends. It's a peek into their household, into their traditions and their close, loving family.
June 22, 2025
Who knew you could read a Cookbook cover-to-cover an not get bored? But that's exactly what I've done here, and found it eminently readable.
There's something quite interesting in looking in any old cookbooks, and seeing how tastes have changed. Even in this one, one of the contributors mentions she found one from the early 1800s with a recipe for boiled calves feet in milk, to be drunk by the cup full as a pick-me-up - not something I imagine will be catching on today, as the contributor notes. But it's interesting to see how something good enough to be included in a cookbook from only thirty or so years ago, today looks rather awful. The amount of savoury jelly recipes in here astonished me, and the oeufs au gelée recipe looks like something for Halloween, not a dinner party as is suggested. It holds no appeal to me (or my friends I showed it to) whatsoever. It's interesting to see the change, and makes you wonder what from today will be regarded with disgust in the future.
The real reason I read this, though, wasn't for the recipes (some of which, I must say, do look good, and are interesing to see), but instead for the little anecdotes scattered throughout. They were exactly what I wanted: curious, interesting, or sweet. After reading almost all of Dahl's publications (there's only two I know of that I haven't read), it's interesting to see more of him as a person, and his family life. Food (and drink) is obviously such an important part of his life, and I certainly relate to that. It was also very interesting to hear from other people in his life, including his granddaughter Sophie, who I'm sure became a TV chef for a bit. It was fun also to see the odd recipe from a name I recognised - Prue Leith, and even a Richard Stein!
As a recipe book, this is good if you live in the countryside and have access to your own pike, and pheasant, and greengages. I would love to, but unfortunately this is our of reach for a lot of people now, I'd think. As an insight into a different time, and Dahl's life, it's pretty interesting though. And maybe one day, when I do live somewhere I can gather my own elderflowers, I'll make some elderflower spritz!
There's something quite interesting in looking in any old cookbooks, and seeing how tastes have changed. Even in this one, one of the contributors mentions she found one from the early 1800s with a recipe for boiled calves feet in milk, to be drunk by the cup full as a pick-me-up - not something I imagine will be catching on today, as the contributor notes. But it's interesting to see how something good enough to be included in a cookbook from only thirty or so years ago, today looks rather awful. The amount of savoury jelly recipes in here astonished me, and the oeufs au gelée recipe looks like something for Halloween, not a dinner party as is suggested. It holds no appeal to me (or my friends I showed it to) whatsoever. It's interesting to see the change, and makes you wonder what from today will be regarded with disgust in the future.
The real reason I read this, though, wasn't for the recipes (some of which, I must say, do look good, and are interesing to see), but instead for the little anecdotes scattered throughout. They were exactly what I wanted: curious, interesting, or sweet. After reading almost all of Dahl's publications (there's only two I know of that I haven't read), it's interesting to see more of him as a person, and his family life. Food (and drink) is obviously such an important part of his life, and I certainly relate to that. It was also very interesting to hear from other people in his life, including his granddaughter Sophie, who I'm sure became a TV chef for a bit. It was fun also to see the odd recipe from a name I recognised - Prue Leith, and even a Richard Stein!
As a recipe book, this is good if you live in the countryside and have access to your own pike, and pheasant, and greengages. I would love to, but unfortunately this is our of reach for a lot of people now, I'd think. As an insight into a different time, and Dahl's life, it's pretty interesting though. And maybe one day, when I do live somewhere I can gather my own elderflowers, I'll make some elderflower spritz!
March 7, 2022
I would only recommend this cookbook to those who are huge Roald Dahl fans, as I am; it’s more of a collectible piece, rather than a reference. It even has some drawings and input from the beloved Quentin Blake, further endearing this book to Roald Dahl fans. Otherwise, this wasn’t a great technical or conceptual cooking reference.
This book was published in 1991, so it is an old book. It definitely looks it, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It made the cookbook quite quaint; the photos were definitely quaint. (On the other hand, the photos were not always helpful for the home cook to visualize the final dish.) The book is peppered with blurbs and essays by Roald Dahl himself, all of them related to food (and drink) in some way. As usual, they were amusing, and even more so, because these are Roald Dahl’s opinions, experiences, memories, etc. It was fun to eat the food that Roald Dahl would have eaten, too. However, in my opinion, the food was quite bland, despite being so rich; herbs and spices make a small presence in the book. Most of the recipes were unfamiliar to me, so it was especially unfortunate when some of the recipes did not have photo accompaniment. Be warned that because this is a British book, the measurements were in the imperial units, the ingredients may not be available in your area, and there might be differences in the ingredient names.
Overall, because of its relevance to Roald Dahl, this book was fun to experience, but not exactly exciting for your taste buds.
If you’re interested in seeing my experience of this book, please see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xyddq...
This book was published in 1991, so it is an old book. It definitely looks it, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It made the cookbook quite quaint; the photos were definitely quaint. (On the other hand, the photos were not always helpful for the home cook to visualize the final dish.) The book is peppered with blurbs and essays by Roald Dahl himself, all of them related to food (and drink) in some way. As usual, they were amusing, and even more so, because these are Roald Dahl’s opinions, experiences, memories, etc. It was fun to eat the food that Roald Dahl would have eaten, too. However, in my opinion, the food was quite bland, despite being so rich; herbs and spices make a small presence in the book. Most of the recipes were unfamiliar to me, so it was especially unfortunate when some of the recipes did not have photo accompaniment. Be warned that because this is a British book, the measurements were in the imperial units, the ingredients may not be available in your area, and there might be differences in the ingredient names.
Overall, because of its relevance to Roald Dahl, this book was fun to experience, but not exactly exciting for your taste buds.
If you’re interested in seeing my experience of this book, please see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xyddq...
October 10, 2021
When I tell you this cookbook is LIT, son.
February 14, 2017
I have always loved Roald Dahl and read his books over and over and over again when I was a child. I clearly remember, aged ten, his death being announced on the tiny television in our dining room and weeping at the loss. This book, which Roald was working on with his wife Felicity when he died, was completed and released the year following his death in 1990. It is a book of family, history and heartbreak, but also of beauty, joy and celebration, all told though the prism of food.
A master of the English literary language, Dahl has filled the book with vivid descriptions of food he has eaten and loved. The recipes are elegant and seasonal, made from fresh, uncomplicated ingredients. It is carefully executed British farmhouse food with international flair.
Every part of this book sparkles. The recipes, the stories, the memories, the emotions, the food ethos, the illustration, the photography, the graphic design, the descriptions, the imagery. I truly appreciate the heart-rending effort it must have taken for Felicity Dahl to finish this book and I am very glad that she did.
A master of the English literary language, Dahl has filled the book with vivid descriptions of food he has eaten and loved. The recipes are elegant and seasonal, made from fresh, uncomplicated ingredients. It is carefully executed British farmhouse food with international flair.
Every part of this book sparkles. The recipes, the stories, the memories, the emotions, the food ethos, the illustration, the photography, the graphic design, the descriptions, the imagery. I truly appreciate the heart-rending effort it must have taken for Felicity Dahl to finish this book and I am very glad that she did.
May 24, 2016
I have had this book for years, and have tried quite a few of the recipes in there. There is a good balance between good old-fashioned Englishness and more adventurous, curious Norwegian recipes (Roald Dahl's roots are in the far north). Besides being a cook book, it also feels a bit like a diary, as you get little snippets of their family life and anecdotes concerning the various recipes. Most of the dishes are stunningly photographed and make you hungry just by looking at them.
I will treasure this book for years to come!
I will treasure this book for years to come!
February 23, 2014
This book is a real delight. A must-have for any Dahl reader.
August 19, 2021
Just lovely, we must remember a cook book is not just about the food it's a story, a journey a relationship. A cozy read
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews