Ann Willan: Old Recipes in the Kitchen

Internationally renowned cooking authority Anne Willan and her husband Mark Cherniavsky have been collecting antiquarian cookbooks for many years, and theirs is a vibrant working collection. Speaking at the Los Angeles Public Library on May 8th, Anne will bring these cookbooks and their recipes to life, discussing how she tests historical recipes and adapts their instructions for the modern kitchen. Old cookbooks “are windows into the kitchens of great lords, kings, even popes,” Anne says. “Recreation of these recipes in a modern kitchen can bring many delights. The dishes are often delicious but sometimes disastrous; usually quite strange, and fascinating.”

Personally, I know nothing about Anne Willan, but this lecture sounds pretty interesting. And I’m always game for an interesting, free event that gets me downtown on a Saturday. After Ms Willan’s talk, head over to Grand Central Market and get some awesome pupusas.

A reception with refreshments will follow the talk at approximately 11:30.

Saturday, May 8th, 10:30 a.m. at the Los Angeles Public Library
Mark Taper Auditorium, Downtown Central Library, 630 W. 5th St.

This event is free and open to the public.

(image credit: domaine547.com)

Anne Willan has more than 30 years of experience as a teacher, cookbook author, culinary historian and food columnist. In addition to founding Ecole de Cuisine La Varenne in Paris in 1975, she has written more than two dozen books, including the influential La Varenne Pratique and the 17-volume, photo-illustrated Look and Cook series, showcased in her 26-part PBS program. Anne’s upcoming book on the history of cookbooks will be published by University of California Press. For more information on Anne and her work, visit www.lavarenne.com.

For more information on the Culinary Historians of Southern California check out http://culinaryhistoriansofsoutherncalifornia.org/.