a reader
Rating:
5 / 5
like most everyone else i bought this book hoping for more of an inside glimpse into jacqueline kennedy onassis' life wondering what kind of food someone who had been everywhere and experienced almost everything life has to offer would have at home. what a pleasant surprise to find she enjoyed foods all of us can prepare at home without too much muss or fuss. who would have thought shepherds pie or brownies! what i found made the book a must for me though, is the antedote about aristotle onassis and the chocolate cake. i actually laughed. i can see why ms. sgubin fit into this family so nicely because she herself is so charming and kind. i think you'll enjoy "cooking for madame" even if you don't cook simply because it revisites someone we liked having in the world community so much. kudos marta!
Great recipes & a rare glimpse into private family
Rating:
5 / 5
Marta was with Jackie and the children for more than 20 years (I believe she is now working for Caroline and her family). Her recipes are very fresh, healthy, and sophisticated. Yet they are relatively simple and straightforward. The memories she shares with us, along with family photographs, provide a glimpse into the life of this very private family, and show happy times, like birthday parties and summertime meals at Jackie's home on Martha's Vineyard. She tells us about some favorite family dishes, and comes across as very unpretentious, loving, and loyal. Thanks to Marta, I now know how Jackie stayed so thin: most days, when not entertaining, she had a simple lunch of roasted chicken, cottage cheese, and sliced tomatoes. Now where else are you going to find out something like that? The photographs of the food are lovely, too.
Cookbook and memoir
Rating:
5 / 5
While this is an interesting cookbook, the real value is a look into the private life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis by a valued member of her household. Marta, an Italian who spent more time in France, first came as a French-speaking au pair to tempt the Kennedy kids into learning the language. While that dodge usually failed (she learned English), Marta had other talents. Watching the cooks wherever she went, Marta developed a skill in the kitchen and ended up as Mrs. Onassis' private chef.Marta treats us to reminiscences about life with Jackie, home photos, and a side of Jackie we never saw in the tabloids. The little hand-written notes of thanks for a mango ice cream show a gracious person with a sense of humor. The recipes are interesting--Eggs Toupinel is a hollowed-out baked potato refilled with an egg and re-baked. This favorite was served as a lunch for Mrs. Clinton. The information about how food was served and when is also interesting. This is a fascinating peek into the world of a beloved celebrity, and a very fun book to read.
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