Marion Cunningham saved my life, made me laugh and taught me half of what I know. A fantastic lost recipe she rescued. Vintage menus just for her. And a great book.
One of my favorite Marion stories she told was when she was asked to do a cooking class at The Ritz in Paris. (You might have been with her on that trip.) She brought along a can of Crisco, to make pie dough. The chef of the hotel walked over, picked it up and said to her, "What is this sh*t?" Thankfully she was someone who could not only dish it out, but take it.
I have never made a Marion Cunningham recipe that didn't turn out perfectly - and I can say the same thing about you. Your split pea soup is a staple through the long New England winters. I love all your books, but in my house My Paris Kitchen is in a class by itself.
I once interviewed Marian at her home for (I think) California magazine. We'd never met, but she greeted me as if we were old friends and poured me a cup of the best coffee I've ever had, accompanied by apple muffins still warm from her oven. When I fan-girled over the muffins and asked where I might find the recipe, she got up from the table and found her copy of The Breakfast Book, which she said was mine to keep. I protested: it had her penciled notes in the margins! She insisted. I still have it, and I remember that day, and Marian's generosity, every time I bake Raw Apple Muffins.
Many, many years ago I signed up my 8 year old son for a cooking class for kids presented by the Walnut Creek community parks and recreation. It was taught by Marion Cunningham, who lived in neighboring Lafayette.Apparently she was researching for a cookbook for kids…it did come out a year or so later! I still have some of the class recipes, and my now 43 year old son is the cook in his family.
I love reading your stories about the people you knew like Marion Cunningham, Jonathan Gold, and your former Travel Editor at GOURMET Bill Sertl, who you dragged along on your "Paris on the Cheap" story! (I still laugh thinking about it, and how wonderfully it turned out—while I've never been to Paris, reading of your experiences and memories makes it magical.)
Guess I should pick up A PARIS NOVEL, which is on my "Buy it When Your Fiscies (my ex-wife's term for money and finances) Are more in Tune" list.
I'm trying to remember if it was Tender at the Bone or Comfort Me with Apples that tells about you riding around with Marion Cunningham! I have given Learning to Cook as a present, and like many others rely on Marion Cunningham's perfect yeast-raised waffles for Sunday morning breakfast with weekend guests. But my very favorite book of hers (and I believe I have them all - even Lost Recipes) is the Twelfth Edition of The Fannie Farmer Cookbook. My first cookbook was the 1964 Joy, which was given to me as an engagement gift in 1968! But Fannie is the basic cookbook I love the most, have used the most, and still recommend all the time. The recipes are flawless! The reason I like the Twelfth edition better than the Thirteenth is that it has metric measurements, which she unfortunately eliminated in the Thirteenth. Now I'm off to my bookshelf to look at your books for a re-read.
It seems like so much has been lost over the past five decades. I know we can't go back, but I feel sad that the lives and lifestyles you describe are gone forever.
What a treasure - to have had that friendship with such a lovely person. Wonderful to read this today and love the photos. And now I am picturing you and Marion on the Vineyard making pancakes!
Oh my goodness. Such goodness. And Salt Rising Bread! My grandmother, a Northern California girl couldn’t wait to grocery shop in Southern California because we had Van de Kamps Bakery Salt Rising Bread. She often took loaves home to freeze. And when I visited her she’d ask me to load up the car with loaves! When they stopped making it available she urged me to find a recipe. She couldn’t find her dad’s (a chemist and bakery owner in Chicago) recipe. I tried a couple but they didn’t measure up. Now this! I’m printing as I comment! High hopes! Many thanks in advance!
Victoria, I too am a Northern Ca girl though I was raised in KY by my WV parents.. I grew up on salt rising bread. My father is now 85 and I found a source in Morgantown WV that makes fabulous salt rising bread (they ship it!). I keep him in good supply and send the occasional loaf my way too. Rising Creek Bakery in Morgantown WV is the source.
Thanks for this tip! I'm going to try Marion's recipe but in the meantime have just ordered from Rising Creek. I love to support unique regional bakeries.
I remember a lot about Marion but my favs are her speeding down the 101, past my town of Mill Valley on her way to see Dorothy Cousins in Sausalito. Two wonderful ladies. The other was her tongue in cheek advice of "keep drinking wine until they tell you to stop".
I have Edna moments, but they were not with Marion. I'll write about them soon. But there was a wonderful article in the San Francisco Chronicle - sometime in the eighties - when the two of them sat down to talk about the flavors of their childhood. And the photograph! Two spectacularly beautiful older women.
One of my favorite Marion stories she told was when she was asked to do a cooking class at The Ritz in Paris. (You might have been with her on that trip.) She brought along a can of Crisco, to make pie dough. The chef of the hotel walked over, picked it up and said to her, "What is this sh*t?" Thankfully she was someone who could not only dish it out, but take it.
I have never made a Marion Cunningham recipe that didn't turn out perfectly - and I can say the same thing about you. Your split pea soup is a staple through the long New England winters. I love all your books, but in my house My Paris Kitchen is in a class by itself.
I once interviewed Marian at her home for (I think) California magazine. We'd never met, but she greeted me as if we were old friends and poured me a cup of the best coffee I've ever had, accompanied by apple muffins still warm from her oven. When I fan-girled over the muffins and asked where I might find the recipe, she got up from the table and found her copy of The Breakfast Book, which she said was mine to keep. I protested: it had her penciled notes in the margins! She insisted. I still have it, and I remember that day, and Marian's generosity, every time I bake Raw Apple Muffins.
Many, many years ago I signed up my 8 year old son for a cooking class for kids presented by the Walnut Creek community parks and recreation. It was taught by Marion Cunningham, who lived in neighboring Lafayette.Apparently she was researching for a cookbook for kids…it did come out a year or so later! I still have some of the class recipes, and my now 43 year old son is the cook in his family.
What a treasure box of memories you have!
I love reading your stories about the people you knew like Marion Cunningham, Jonathan Gold, and your former Travel Editor at GOURMET Bill Sertl, who you dragged along on your "Paris on the Cheap" story! (I still laugh thinking about it, and how wonderfully it turned out—while I've never been to Paris, reading of your experiences and memories makes it magical.)
Guess I should pick up A PARIS NOVEL, which is on my "Buy it When Your Fiscies (my ex-wife's term for money and finances) Are more in Tune" list.
Any memory of Marion Cunningham brings a lump to my throat. She was in fact the most beautiful older lady ever. Inside and out
I'm trying to remember if it was Tender at the Bone or Comfort Me with Apples that tells about you riding around with Marion Cunningham! I have given Learning to Cook as a present, and like many others rely on Marion Cunningham's perfect yeast-raised waffles for Sunday morning breakfast with weekend guests. But my very favorite book of hers (and I believe I have them all - even Lost Recipes) is the Twelfth Edition of The Fannie Farmer Cookbook. My first cookbook was the 1964 Joy, which was given to me as an engagement gift in 1968! But Fannie is the basic cookbook I love the most, have used the most, and still recommend all the time. The recipes are flawless! The reason I like the Twelfth edition better than the Thirteenth is that it has metric measurements, which she unfortunately eliminated in the Thirteenth. Now I'm off to my bookshelf to look at your books for a re-read.
It seems like so much has been lost over the past five decades. I know we can't go back, but I feel sad that the lives and lifestyles you describe are gone forever.
Thank you for sharing this story of friendship. It was very moving. Amazing how that chance meeting laid the foundation for your amazing career.
What a delightful post! Thank you!
What a treasure - to have had that friendship with such a lovely person. Wonderful to read this today and love the photos. And now I am picturing you and Marion on the Vineyard making pancakes!
Oh my goodness. Such goodness. And Salt Rising Bread! My grandmother, a Northern California girl couldn’t wait to grocery shop in Southern California because we had Van de Kamps Bakery Salt Rising Bread. She often took loaves home to freeze. And when I visited her she’d ask me to load up the car with loaves! When they stopped making it available she urged me to find a recipe. She couldn’t find her dad’s (a chemist and bakery owner in Chicago) recipe. I tried a couple but they didn’t measure up. Now this! I’m printing as I comment! High hopes! Many thanks in advance!
Victoria, I too am a Northern Ca girl though I was raised in KY by my WV parents.. I grew up on salt rising bread. My father is now 85 and I found a source in Morgantown WV that makes fabulous salt rising bread (they ship it!). I keep him in good supply and send the occasional loaf my way too. Rising Creek Bakery in Morgantown WV is the source.
Thanks for this tip! I'm going to try Marion's recipe but in the meantime have just ordered from Rising Creek. I love to support unique regional bakeries.
I’ll try!
I remember a lot about Marion but my favs are her speeding down the 101, past my town of Mill Valley on her way to see Dorothy Cousins in Sausalito. Two wonderful ladies. The other was her tongue in cheek advice of "keep drinking wine until they tell you to stop".
I loved that she was so accessible. Question about a recipe? She welcomed the phone calls and the questions.
Did any of your "Marion-moments" include Edna Lewis? If so, please recap for us.
I have Edna moments, but they were not with Marion. I'll write about them soon. But there was a wonderful article in the San Francisco Chronicle - sometime in the eighties - when the two of them sat down to talk about the flavors of their childhood. And the photograph! Two spectacularly beautiful older women.
Thanks so much for this! The Breakfast Book is one of my all time favorites and I continue to seduce my husband with her raised waffles.