Eating Together: Recollections and Recipes

by Lillian Hellman, Peter Feibleman

The authors share anecdotes about memorable parties, dinners, and celebrations, and offer some of their favorite recipes

Genres: Nonfiction

189 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1984

About the author

Lillian Florence "Lilly" Hellman (June 20, 1905 – June 30, 1984) was an American dramatist and screenwriter famously blacklisted by the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) at the height of the anti-communist campaigns of 1947–52.

Hellman was praised for sacrificing her career by refusing to answer questions by HUAC; but her denial that she had ever belonged to the Communist Party was easily disproved, and her veracity was doubted by many, including war correspondent Martha Gellhorn and literary critic Mary McCarthy.

She adapted her semi-autobiographical play The Little Foxes into a screenplay which received an Academy Award nomination in 1942.

Hellman was romantically involved with fellow writer and political activist Dashiell Hammett for thirty years until his death.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[NOLaBookish aka blue-collared mind · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anything Lillian Hellman wrote is something I want to read. This was fun and gave more color to her both to her New Orleans background and her Southern irascibility- two extremely valuable character points in my book.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love reading cookbooks - especially when they are written, as this one is, as a combination memoir/cookbook.

The first half of the book is "her way" - that is Lillian Hellman's (very-focused) memoirs of her time eating and cooking with Feibleman as well as her recipes. Helman comes across rather crotchety although she has her funny moments. A lot of the time when she talks about Feibleman you have to wonder why they ever spent any time together at all. (ie: how he put up with her!)

"His way" - or Peter Feibleman's memoirs and recipes - still focuses a lot on Hellman but Feibleman comes across much funnier and more "loose." It is less like he is criticizing so much as he just loves her quirks and their "schtick" together.

Since it is written by two New Orleans natives, the recipes understandably include a lot of fish and shellfish. 2/3 of the recipes (also understandably) include brandy, bourbon, or sherry (or at least some version of wine vinegar.) But I was surprised that at least 3/4 of the recipes are stove top cooking only and not so much roasting.

But lest you think that means it isn't meat oriented rest assured: Tripe Stew = veal, tripe, pork sausage, ham, chicken, and lard. Boiled Chicken and Vegetables (Cocido Madrileno)= fowl, brisket, ham, salt pork, and chorizo.

The recipes most definitely feel dated but are easily adaptable into the classic cuisine they really are and I can't wait to put a few into rotation (especially Feibleman's Gazpacho recipes that just look like the perfect ratios.)

[Judi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming, short compendium of recollections and recipes by Lillian Hellman and Peter Feibleman. The recipes are simple and look pretty good...will be trying a few.