lost & found cookbooks

Dinner at Omar Khayyam's

"DINNER AT OMAR KHAYYAM'S"
Chef George Mardikian, 1944

The previous post made me think about a growing genre of cookbook collecting -- restaurant cookbooks. A number of chefs of famous restaurants haven given up some of their best recipes in recipe collections and cookbooks.

Here I've chosen another San Francisco restaurant, long gone, called Omar Khayyam's; an Armenian restaurant featuring exotic flavors of the Middle East with nods to American cooking and local produce and seafood.

Mardikian writes in an affable style and recounts his story of immigrating to America. His cooking favors the fresh and simple, avoiding heavy sauces and complex recipes; "Broiled Trout and Lemon Dressing with Piaz" (Piaz is a parsley and onion mixture) , a raw spinach salad called "Immigrant's Pack Salad", and  "Bean Yahni" (lima bean or soy bean stew") to name a few.  Recipes are preceded by informative tips and tales of the recipes origin.

William Saroyan writes in the intro:"...more than just a cookbook. It is the smiling chef himself".

[buy it "Dinner at Omar Khayyam's"at OldCookbooks.com]

Basque Story Cook Book

"A BASQUE STORY COOK BOOK"
Ann Rogers, 1968

Part Basque history, part memoir and part cookbook, this delightful book will introduce you to both the history of the Basques and their cooking. The author pens the story of the owners of Martin's Espanol --  a San Francisco restaurant and hotel created by Basque immigrants Martin and Angelita Abauerrea, serving a community of sheepherders, laborers, primarily Basques and Spaniards from 1907 through 1966.

Basque cooking has influences of both the French and Spanish but remains a distinct style of its own. Recipes are rich and hearty including traditional stews of lamb and veal, Spanish chorizo and potatoes, lentil soup, salsas and flans. The author describes the life of the couple, as well as the habits of the boarders: " Angelita rose early every day to prepare the traditional Basque breakfast of cafe con leche, slabs of bread and a glass of whisky..." (seemingly a good way to start the day if you are hanging out with wet sheep all day).

[buy it at OldCookbooks.com]