The Wasp Cookbook

by Alexandra Wentworth

Offers over ninety recipes from only the "best" families in this humorous treatment of WASP cusine and culture

Genres: Cooking, Cookbooks

128 pages, Hardcover

First published October 16, 1997

Reviews

[Kimberly Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this is not your average, healthy, fancy ingredient, colorful photo cookbook; Nope, not at all.... I tell you it was the blue velvet gold embossed cover that piqued my curiosity

This book is divided into the 4 Seasons with appropriate menus for each & recipes.

Spring: Barn Party, Easter Supper, Derby Day, Baby Shower Brunch, Mothers' Day Lunch, Bridal Tea, The WASP Wedding (see the Fannie Farmer Boston Cooking School's wedding cake), & Annual Family Meeting Tea

Summer: Opening-up-the-Summer-House Dinner, Croquet Breakfast, June Graduation Supper, Fourth of July Cookout, Wimbledon Fancy, Horse Trail Afternoon, A Beach Picnic, Vineyard Antique Show Cocktails, Bermuda race, & Labor Day Picnic

Autumn: Prep School Send-Off, Head-of-the-Charles Picnic, Harvard-Yale Game Tailgate Party, A Middleburg Fox Hunt, Harvard Punching Party Lunch, & A Racquetball Brunch

Winter: Débutante Ball, Vail Weekend, Caribbean Cocktails, Boxing Day Lunch, Blessing of the Hounds, & A WASP Funeral Supper

I seriously was not aware of the myriad of uses the "Upper Class" had for Ritz Crackers, Wheat-Thins, Triscuit, Mayonnaise, Corn Syrup, Vanilla Wafers, Cream of Mushroom Soup, or White Bread until I read this book.

Most recipes I'd never make myself, but they sure know how to mix a cocktail & steam a lobster.....

[Maureen Flatley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tongue in cheek but full of traditional recipes. Hilarious and fun!

[Geri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cookbook is absolutely delightful. The descriptions were spot on and the recipes are tasty as well. In regards to food served at a funeral, one must remember to have plenty of sweets on hand.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I consider this one of the real gems in my cookbook collection. I got the book for a song at a library sale and never have I been so pleased with a purchase (other than my find of the beginning years of Gourmet magazine - nothing can top that!). The writing style is crisp and filled with dry, self-deprecating wit - just what you might expect from a book of this nature, only without the tiniest bit of WASP stuffiness. The recipes, by the way, are quite delectable. My only caveat: put this book in a case behind glass, if you own cats....the binding is a pure magnet to cat hair, dust, etc. (Things you would, of course, NEVER find in a WASP home.) ;)

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious. Comedy and cooking all in one book, plus now I'll know what to bring to the next fox hunt.

[Casey]

A hilarious, fairly tongue-in-cheek cookbook but, I'm almost embarrassed to admit, there are some of my father's family favorites in there.