A guide to modern cookery

"A Guide to Modern Cookery" by A. Escoffier is a comprehensive cookbook written in the early 20th century. This culinary guide aims to blend traditional cooking methods with innovative practices of the time, providing a resource for both novice and experienced cooks. The content reflects the evolving nature of cooking in response to changing societal tastes and dining habits, emphasizing the importance of quality ingredients and refined techniques. At the start of the book, Escoffier introduces his philosophy of modern cookery. He explains the necessity of adapting culinary practices to meet contemporary lifestyles, especially the shift towards lighter dining experiences prevalent in elegant restaurants. The preface discusses the evolution of the art of cooking over the past decades and the establishment of new methods and recipes that accommodate modern tastes. Escoffier stresses that the foundation of successful cooking lies in essential stock and sauces, foreshadowing the detailed recipes and instructions that will follow in the subsequent chapters. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Georges Auguste Escoffier was a French chef, restaurateur, and culinary writer who popularised and updated traditional French cooking methods. Much of Escoffier's technique was based on that of Marie-Antoine Carême, one of the codifiers of French haute cuisine; Escoffier's achievement was to simplify and modernise Carême's elaborate and ornate style. In particular, he codified the recipes for the five mother sauces. Referred to by the French press as roi des cuisiniers et cuisinier des rois, Escoffier was a preeminent figure in London and Paris during the 1890s and the early part of the 20th century.