Farmbrarian

Vintage cookbooks are precious resources. They allow us a glimpse back in history when food, cooking and  culture were very different than today.

The White House Cookbook was originally published in 1887. The contents of the book will surely take you back in time with discussions on etiquette and dinner parties. So many classic cooking tips fill this book. (Want an ebook version? Access the text for free through Project Gutenberg.)

The Curiosities of Food is another vintage title, originally published in 1859, but the scope of the book is very different than that of The White House Cookbook. Rodents, fowl, insects and other odd edibles are covered. The full title reads, The Curiosities of Food: Or the Dainties and Delicacies of Different Nations Obtained from the Animal Kingdom. Those interested in anthropology or the Travel Channel’s show Bizarre Foods will likely enjoy this book.

The American Heritage Cookbook is worth a look simply for the 40 historical menus included. A wealth of recipes are also included in this text originally published in the 1960′s.

Yearning for more vintage reads? Check out Omnivore Books on Food’s antiquarian inventory here.