First published: 2023
Publisher: Grub Street Publishing,
The Elizabeth David Collection
In 1965 Elizabeth David opened a shop in Pimlico, London, where she sold Le Creuset pans and other hard-to-get-hold-of kitchen utensils. The store, with its marvellous window displays, was as influential as her books would eventually be, pioneering a new generation of shops devoted exclusively to kitchenware. Rosi Hanson, who worked in David’s shop for two years says, ‘She was good fun, and the shop was magical. She rather loved being a shopkeeper, perhaps because it gave her a rest from writing. If someone wanted some very specific piece of equipment, I often heard her say: “If you could come back, I think I may have one at home.” On evenings when we stayed late to do the windows, she would make a picnic for us all to eat: terrine, things in jelly.’
‘The Baking of an English Loaf’, ‘Dried Herbs’ (1969), ‘Aromatics and Condiments’ (1967), ‘English Potted Meats’, ‘Fish Pastes’ (1968) and ‘Syllabubs and Fruit Fools’ (1969) were sold exclusively in the shop. They were simple black and white productions which have now become rare, highly sought-after and very expensive collectors items. So Grub Street is delighted to have acquired the rights to these booklets from the David Estate and are redesigning them as four hardback books in a slip-case with specially commissioned beautiful artwork, making them the perfect gift item.
The Elizabeth David Collection cover gallery
