Dining with the Washingtons: Historic Recipes, Entertaining, and Hospitality from Mount Vernon

This is a wonderful book! It has lovely photos of meals and Mt. Vernon, lots of information on the ways that the Washingtons entertained and first hand accounts from visitors who were lucky enough to have a meal in their marvelous company. The recipes that are included have been adapted for modern cooks who can try any of them at home if they want to discover the 'taste of the past' that one gets from Colonial cookery. Having eaten many meals in the taverns of Colonial Williamsburg, I can attest to the fact that the foods of Colonial America were decidedly more tasty than most of what we consume today. For one thing, the emphasis was on freshness and seasonality, when very few could afford -- or even have access to -- foods that were not in season. And for another, spices and herbs often helped to give a depth to Colonial dishes that we simply don't seem to have anymore. It is astonishing how different food can taste with the simple addition of say a bit of freshly ground nutmeg or a handful of fresh basil added to the mix. If healthy eating and interesting food is something you care about, this book just might appeal to you. Not to mention the lovely ambiance that can be created by just paying a little more attention to the setting of the table and the lighting of a few candles as was part of the charm of the Washington's table. I found this book to be visually lovely and historically informative and I plan to try some of the recipes out on my family.

History, and how it's taught, can be a tricky thing. Sometimes you get the facts, but the real people who lived in those times seem either totally absent, or come across as rather bland and bloodless. This book inflates these flat Colonials back into the three dimensional, passionate human beings that they must have been. I mean, they overthrew an unbeaten superpower! There had to have been some substance underneath all that reverence that their legacies are handles with.An invitation to dine with the Washington's was the hottest ticket one could hope for. The table was legendary. I expected blander fare and perhaps not as much variety. As I went through the recipes, I found myself getting more and more interested. They ate what they grew. They imported only what was necessary. Hey, this looks yummy! And, George himself was very fond of Cherry Bounce. What else do you do with all those sour cherries on your property? This wonderful liqueur has been a steady guest in my own home at Christmas! I discovered it while up in Door County, Wisconsin for a holiday. When I bought sour cherries, there were recipes included that were not pie!I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves it when history comes to life. The anecdotes alone are worth the purchase. The pictures are exceptionally beautiful. I invite you to step into the Washington's world. It might even feel like a little holiday!

Not interesting to me. It is made well and written very well. It has a lot of information inside to keep a person occupied for a long time. I am just not in to history. I never was. The book is well worth the money.

We used to live outside DC and visited Mount Vernon many times. You sort of “get to know” George and Martha Washington when you learn more about them at their home, and this book was just what I needed to learn more. It is fun to read how they entertained, and see recipes and meals that were served. Very nice book.

We live near Mt. Vernon and I purchased this book for my Californian foodie/chef sister and brother in law for Christmas. It's got some really beautiful pictures as well as a number of intriguing recipes utilizing regional and seasonal ingredients that people ought to reacquaint themselves with. I love seeing the original recipes next to the adapted versions. It's a great gift for a history buff and food lover. I actually want to buy a copy for myself!

Excellent book with great recipes. I love Mt. Vernon and when we visited I did not purchase the book because of its size and weight. I later regretted and wanted it. Amazon was able to provide the book. I have tried a few of the receipes and these are old-fashioned in the preparation, but we loved them!I have this book placed on my end table because of the pretty cover.

This is a gorgeous book, beautifully assembled, full of interesting information about the first family. Even though dining is central the recipes are given enough but not overwhelming space, for which I was most appreciative. The book is really about the art of dining and how the Washingtons entertained all who stopped there and kept in touch with the American people.

Fabulous pictorial book about the personal and culinary history of both George and Martha Washington and their Mount Vernon home! Great to have after a personal visit to Mount Vernon. Gives in-depth information and yummy recipes!