Happy New Year!
W hope you had a fun, safe, and enjoyable start to 2026!
For this the first Book Tuesday of 2026 we have wonderful book of Victorian Recipes from 1877.
This book was written by Queen Victoria's Chef Charles Elmé,Francatelli, 1805-1876.
Initially written around 1846, and continuously updated over 25 editions, this book contains 1462 recipes across more than 500 pages !
Truly a treasure chest of period recipes.
Enjoy
The Victorian Society of Alberta
A practical Guide to the culinary art
In all its branches
This book is available for download from the Internet Archive as a large PDF
PREFACE to the last edition
In introducing the present Edition of The Modern Cook to the public, I beg to return my thanks for the patronage that has been awarded to former Editions, by the public at large, as well as by the profession, of whose approbation I feel most proud. Indeed, I am so conscious of the value of the good opinion of these competent judges, that I. do not hesitate to ascribe the steady demand with which the Work has hitherto been favoured to their liberal support.
So gratifying an appreciation of my endeavours has naturally prompted me to render the present Edition in all respects worthy of a continuance of their patronage. I have in all cases most strictly studied economy, — by retrenching as far as it appeared to me consistent with propriety all unnecessary and too expensive accessories to the more costly kinds of dishes. The whole work has been entirely revised with scrupulous care and attention ; and upwards of eighty entirely new dishes, principally belonging to the Second Course department, have been added. I have also enlarged the glossary of technical terms : — and, in order to render the Work of easier reference to the public, as well as to the practitioner, no trouble has been spared to improve the Index.
I have nearly doubled the original number of Bills of Fare ; and have added many of dinners served to Her Majesty the Queen.
The first "recipe" in the book :
