Elizabeth David’s Journalism: A Partial Bibliography

Posted on Sat 26th September, 2026 by Alexander Reid – Guest Writer

Elizabeth David worked for a number of publications, starting with her first article, ‘Rice Again’ in ‘Harper’s Bazaar’ in 1949. She would then write for a range of newspapers such as ‘The Daily Express’, ‘The Sunday Times’, ‘Sunday Dispatch’, ‘The Sunday Telegraph’, and ‘News Chronicle’. Before opening the Elizabeth David Ltd. shop in 1965, she also wrote for magazines such as ‘House & Garden’, ‘British Vogue’, ‘Nova’, ‘Wine and Food’ and travel magazine ‘Go’, with some of her best articles being published in ‘The Spectator’. Later in life, she wrote for ‘Petits Propos Culinaires’ and ‘Tatler’.

In the introduction to ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’, she wrote at length about her career in journalism, including her experiences with editors (her difficult relationship with Ernestine Carter of the ‘Sunday Times’, who often interfered with her copy, was notably fractious) and fellow contributors, as well as her contact with readers and businesses affected by her work (one reader’s reaction to her ‘Spectator’ article ‘Big Bad Bramleys’ is particularly noteworthy.

It appears that the articles included in her archive, now based at Schlesinger Library at Harvard University, were not itemised, and a complete bibliography of her published articles is not included in their holdings. Though many of her best journalism was included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’ and the posthumously published ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’, there are many that remain uncollected; therefore, effort should be made to secure a comprehensive bibliography. A partial selection of the articles she wrote between 1949 and her death in 1992 can be found below:

 

1949

• ‘Rice Again’, ‘Harper’s Bazaar’, March 1949
• ‘Easter Lamb’, ‘Harper’s Bazaar’, April 1949
• ‘Iced Soups’, ‘Harper’s Bazaar’, July 1949
• ‘Style in the Kitchen’, ‘Harper’s Bazaar’, December 1949

 

1950

• ‘Two Cooks’, ‘Wine and Food’, Autumn 1950 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)
• ‘The Use of Wine in Fine Cooking’, pamphlet, wine merchants Saccone & Speed, 1950

1951

• ‘Mistress Margaret Dods’, ‘Harper’s Bazaar’, August 1951 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)
• ‘The Use of Wine in Italian Cooking’ pamphlet, wine merchant Saccone & Speed, 1951

 

1954

• ‘Cockles and mussels’, ‘Harper’s Bazaar’, February 1954
• ‘Is Butter Better?’, ‘The Daily Express’, 21 June 1954

 

1955

• ‘The Presentation of Food’, ‘Harper’s Bazaar’, February 1955
• ‘The Cooking of Provence’, ‘Harper’s Bazaar’, June 1955
• ‘Better Ways of Eating Fish’, ‘Harper’s Bazaar’, August 1955
• ‘Two Norman Dishes’, ‘The Sunday Times’, 4 September 1955

 

1956

• ‘Home Baked Bread’, ‘The Sunday Times’, 25 March 1956
• A Notable English Cook’, ‘House & Garden’, May 1956
• ‘Food at its best in June’, ‘British Vogue’, June 1956
• ‘Food at its best in July’, ‘British Vogue’, July 1956
• ‘Summer Succulent: The Vegetable Lunch’, ‘British Vogue’, August 1956
• ‘Food at its best in August’, ‘British Vogue’, August 1956
• ‘Food at its best in September’, ‘British Vogue’, September 1956
• ‘Food at its best in November’, ‘British Vogue’, November 1956
• ‘Fine Bouche’, ‘The Sunday Times’, 4 November 1956 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘Food at its best in December’, ‘British Vogue’, December 1956

 

1957

• ‘Food at its best in February’, ‘British Vogue’, February1957
• ‘Kedgeree’, ‘British Vogue’, March 1957 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)
• ‘Food at its best in March’, ‘British Vogue’, March 1957
• ‘Paris Cooking en Famille’, ‘British Vogue’, October 1957
• ‘Alsatian Cookery’, ‘British Vogue’, November 1957
• ‘Pizza’, ‘The Sunday Times’, 4 November 1957 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘Christmas in France’, British Vogue, 1 December 1957 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)

1958

• ‘Edible Maccheroni’, ‘House & Garden’, May 1958 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)
• ‘Food in Italy: Cooking with Cheese’, ‘British Vogue’, July 1958
• ‘Chez Barattero’, ‘British Vogue’, September 1958 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘Dishes for Collectors’, ‘British Vogue’, November 1958 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘Traditional Christmas Dishes’, ‘House and Garden’, December 1958 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)

 

1959

• ‘Do not Despair over Rice’, ‘British Vogue’, January 1959 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)
• ‘Making Ice Cream’, House & Garden, July 1959 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)
• ‘What to do with the Bird’, ‘House & Garden’, July 1959 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)
• ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’, T.B. Layton’s ‘Besides’, September-December 1959 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘Untraditional Christmas Food’, ‘British Vogue’, December 1959 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)

 

1960

• ‘The Markets of France: Cavaillon’, ‘British Vogue’, January 1960 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘À la marinière’, ‘House & Garden’, 10 January 1960 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘The Markets of France: Yvetot’, ‘British Vogue’, February 1960 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘The Markets of France: Montpellier’, ‘British Vogue’, March 1960 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘The Markets of France: Martigues’, ‘British Vogue’, April 1960 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘The Markets of France: Valence’, ‘British Vogue’, May 1960 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘Taking Stock’, ‘The Spectator’, 16 September 1960 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)
• ‘Too Many Cooks’, ‘The Spectator’, 21 October 1960 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘Beer and Stout in the Kitchen’, ‘The Spectator’, 25 November 1960
• ‘Fast and Fresh’, ‘The Spectator’, 9 December 1961 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)

1961

• ‘Isabella Beeton And Her Book’, ‘Wine and Food’, Spring 1961(also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘Letting Well Alone’, ‘The Spectator’, 6 July 1961 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘Crackling’, ‘The Spectator’, 10 August 1961 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘British Cuisine’, ‘The Spectator’, 21 September 1961
• ‘Herbs When and How’, ‘The Spectator’, 5 October 1961
• ‘Saffron’, ‘The Spectator’, 19 October 1961
• ‘Thick and Thin’, ‘The Spectator’, 3 November 1961
• ‘Your Perfected Hostess’, ‘Punch’, 6 November 1961 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘West Points’, ‘The Spectator’, 8 December 1961 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘Table Talk’, ‘The Spectator’, 22 December 1961 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)

 

1962

• ‘South Wind’, ‘The Spectator’, 16 February 1962 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘Look to Your Tables’, ‘The Spectator’, 2 March 1962
• ‘Too Much Zeal’, ‘The Spectator’, 16 March 1962
• ‘Mustard and White Wine’, ‘The Spectator’, 29 March 1962
• ‘Copper-Bottomed’, ‘The Spectator’, 12 April 1962
• ‘Mews Cheese’, ‘The Spectator’, 26 April 1962
• ‘Ways with Watercress’, ‘The Spectator’, 17 May 1962
• ‘Souping it Up’, ‘The Spectator’, 31 May 1962
• ‘Flavour of Gunter’s’, ‘The Spectator’, 14 June 1962
• ‘Lucky Dip’, ‘The Spectator’, 29 June 1962 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘Ladies’ Halves’, ‘The Spectator’, 12 July 1962 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘Roustidou’, ‘The Spectator’, 13 July 1962 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘The True Emulsion’, ‘The Spectator’, 2 August 1962 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘Cookery at Bordyke House’, ‘The Spectator’, 9 August 1962
• ‘Summer Holidays’, ‘The Spectator’, 24 August 1962 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘A la Chinoise’, ‘The Spectator’, 27 September 1962
• ‘Oules of Sardines’, ‘The Spectator’, 11 October 1962
• ‘Big Bad Bramleys’, ‘The Spectator’, 26 October 1962 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘The Magpie System’, ‘The Spectator’, 23 November 1962 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘Chez Gee-Gee’, ‘The Spectator’, 7 December 1962 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)

1963

• ‘Fruits de Mer’, ‘The Spectator’, 4 January 1963 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘Not-Cooking Logistics’, ‘The Spectator’, 18 January 1963
• ‘How It All Began’, ‘The Spectator’, 1 February 1963 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’ as ‘John Welsey’s Eye’)
• ‘Anyone for Tennis Cake?’, ‘The Spectator’, 15 February 1963
• ‘Measure for Measure’, ‘The Spectator’, 15 March 1963
• ‘The Very Best Butchery’, ‘The Spectator’, 29 March 1963
• ‘A Smell of Fresh Lemon’, ‘The Spectator’, 11 April 1963
• ‘If You Care to Eat Shark’, ‘The Spectator’, 26 April 1963 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘The Queen’s Apricots’, ‘The Spectator’, 9 May 1963
• ‘The Greeks Have It Right’, ‘The Spectator’, 11 July 1963
• ‘Bring Forth More Fruits’, ‘The Spectator’, 25 July 1963
• ‘A Brand for the Burning’, ‘The Spectator’, 22 August 1963
• ‘Secrets’, ‘Wine & Food’, 6 September 1963 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘Having Crossed the Channel’, ‘The Spectator’, 19 September 1963 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘Le Rouge et le Noir’, ‘The Spectator’, 4 October 1963 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)
• ‘Trufflesville Regis’, ‘The Spectator’, 17 October 1963 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘Capability’s Child’, ‘The Spectator’, 1 November 1963
• ‘La Bombe, c’est la Bombe’, ‘The Spectator’, 15 November 1963
• ‘Scuppernongs and Persimmon Pone’, ‘The Spectator’, 29 November 1963
• ‘Salted Away’, ‘The Spectator’, 27 December 1963
• ‘Whisky in the Kitchen’, ‘The Compleat Imbiber’, 4, 1963 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)

 

1964

• ‘Golden Delicious’, ‘The Spectator’, 10 January 1964 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘Exigez Le Véritable Cheddar Français’, ‘Wine and Food’, Summer 1964 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘South Wind Through the Kitchen’, ‘Wine & Food’, Autumn 1964
• ‘In fresh all’ style!’, ‘Daily Express’, Wednesday, 2 September 1964
• ‘Para Navidad’, ‘The Spectator’, 27 November 1964 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)

1965

• ‘Food for April’, ‘Wine and Food’, April 1965
• ‘A La Francaise’, ‘The Spectator’, 26 February 1965
• ‘Franglais’, ‘The Spectator’, 22 February 1965(also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘Having Crossed The Channel’, ‘Wine and Food’, Spring 1965 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘English Potted Meats And Fish Pastes’, ‘Nova’, April 1965
• ‘Welsh Doubles’, ‘Wine and Food’, Summer 1965 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘Sweet Aristo’, ‘Nova’, July 1965 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘Food for November’, Christopher & Co.

 

1967

• ‘Pomaine, Master of the Unsacrosanct’, ‘The Sunday Times’, 22 January 1967 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘One William Verral’, ‘Spectator’s Choice’, 1967

 

1968

• ‘The Baking of an English Loaf’, ‘Queen’, 4 December 1968 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)

 

1969

• ‘Have It Your Way’, ‘Gourmet’, February 1969 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘I’ll Be With You in the Squeezing of a Lemon’, ‘Wine and Food’, February/March 1969 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘Summer Greenery’, ‘Wine & Food’, June/July 1969 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)
• ‘Foods of Legend’, ‘Gourmet’, 1969 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)

1973

• ‘Sweet Vegetables, Soft Wine’, ‘Wine Mine’, 25 November 1973

 

1974

• ‘Green Pepper Berries’, Introduction from Williams-Sonoma booklet, 1974 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)

 

1975

• ‘Crudités’, Williams-Sonoma booklet, 1975 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)
• ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’, Williams-Sonoma booklet, 1975 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)

 

1976

• ‘Variations of Pizza’, ‘Søndags B.T.’, Denmark, 1976 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)
• ‘Caramel Desserts’, ‘Søndags B.T.’, Denmark, May 1976 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)
• ‘Tians’, ‘Søndags B.T.’, Denmark, June 1976 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)

 

 

1977

• ‘Elizabeth David’s Dream Kitchen’, article contributed to The Kitchen Book by Terence Conran & Mitchell Beazley, 1977 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)

 

1979

• ‘Bruscandoli’, ‘Herbal Review’, Spring 1979 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘Hunt the Ice Cream’, ‘Petits Propos Culinaires’, No. 1, April 1979 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)
• ‘A True Gentlewoman’s Delight’, ‘Petit Propos Culinaires’, No. 1, April 1979 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)
• ‘Good Hay, Sweet Hay’, ‘Petit Propos Culinaires’, No. 1, April 1979
• ‘Operation Mulberry’, ‘Petit Propos Culinaires’, No. 2, August 1979 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘No Fellow’, ‘Petits Propos Culinaires’, No. 2, August 1979
• ‘Concerning Coriander’, ‘Petits Propos Culinaires’ No. 2, August 1979
• ‘Fromages Glacés and Iced Creams’, ‘Petits Propos Culinaires’ No. 2, August 1979
• ‘The Harvest of Cold Months’, ‘Petits Propos Culinaires’, No. 3, November 1979
• ‘Banketting Stuffe’, ‘Petits Propos Culinaires’, No. 3, November 1979 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)
• ‘An Eighteenth Century Kitchen Garden at Christmas’, ‘Petits Propos Culinaires’, No. 3, November 1979
• ‘The Bakers Strike Again’, ‘Petits Propos Culinaires’, No. 3, November 1979

1980

• ‘Eating Out in Provincial France 1965-1977’, ‘Petits Propos Culinaires’, No. 4, February 1980 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘Death in the Glass’, ‘Petits Propos Culinaires’, No. 4, February 1980
• ‘In Pescod Time… I went to gather Strawberries’, ‘Petits Propos Culinaires’, No. 5, May 1980 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)
• ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream?’, ‘Petits Propos Culinaires’, No. 5, May 1980
• ‘The Sweet Smell of Hot Bread’, ‘Petits Propos Culinaires’, No. 5, May 1980
• ‘The Besprinkling of a Rosemary Branch’, ‘Herbal Review’, Autumn 1980 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)
• ‘Mafalda, Giovanna, Giulia’, ‘Petits Propos Culinaires’, No. 6, October 1980 (also included in ‘An Omelette and a Glass of Wine’)
• ‘Truffles in Early English Cookery’, ‘Petits Propos Culinaires’, No. 6, October 1980
• ‘John Nott’, Introduction to 1980 facsimile edition of ‘Cooks and Confectioners Dictionary’, 1726

 

1981

• ‘Agresto’, ‘Petits Propos Culinaires’, No. 7, 1981
• ‘Savour of Ice and of Roses’, ‘Petits Propos Culinaires’, No. 8, 1981
• ‘Mad, Mad, Despised and Dangerous’, ‘Petits Propos Culinaires’, No. 9, 1981

 

1982

• ‘Yogurt’, Masterclass, 1982 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)
• ‘Hand-made Mayonnaise’, Masterclass, 1982 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)
• ‘Poached Eggs’, Masterclass, 1982 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)
• ‘Erbaggi Mantovani: Vegetables of Mantua’, ‘Petits Propos Culinaires’, No. 12, 1982 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)

 

1985

• ‘Scoff Gaffe’, ‘Tatler’, February 1985 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)
• ‘Home Cooking’, ‘Tatler’, March 1985 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)
• ‘The Madeira Era’, ‘Tatler’, June 1985 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)
• ‘Quiche Lorraine’, ‘Tatler’, September 1985 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)
• ‘How Publishers like to have their Cake and Eat it’, ‘Tatler’, October 1985 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)
• ‘The Oxo Story’, ‘Tatler’, November 1985 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)

1986

• ‘Garlic Presses are Utterly Useless’, ‘Tatler’, February 1986 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)
• ‘Alexis Soyer’, ‘Tatler’, March 1986 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)

 

1988

• ‘Perfumed Toothpicks and Table-hopping Birds’, ‘The Daily Telegraph’, 17 September 1988 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)

 

1989

• ‘Kitchens and their Cooks’, Smallbone of Devizes’ catalogue, Summer 1989 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)

 

1991

‘Relishes of the Renaissance’, ‘Taste’, July 1991 (also included in ‘Is There a Nutmeg in the House?’)