In 1837, when Alexis Soyer was just twenty-five years old, he became head chef at the exclusive Reform Club in London on the condition that he be allowed to participate in the design of the kitchen. The result was a showplace filled with Soyer's clever inventions, such as the drainer and the multi-egg poacher, and it became the most talked about kitchen in all of Europe. Soyer quickly established himself as a star, but for all his flamboyance he was practical and large-hearted, cooking for the starving populace as well as the aristocracy, opening soup kitchens during the Irish potato famine, and teaching the army how to feed itself in the Crimean War. Filled with biographical detail and lively illustrations, The Adventurous Chef tells the story of a remarkable man who was determined to revolutionize the culinary world and who remains one of the greatest cooks of the nineteenth century.

Soyer volunteered his services in the Crimea in 1855 to improve military cooking. This work gives a vivid account of his efforts to prepare nutritious meals for the soldiers using a newly invented portable field stove, which remained in use until the Second World War. In two visits to Balaklava, he, with Miss Florence Nightingale and the medical staff, reorganized the victualling of the hospitals. Consult Dictionary of National Biography.

Investigative team Blake and Avery find themselves entangled in a case involving political conflicts, personal vendettas, and England’s first celebrity chef. London, 1842. Captain William Avery is persuaded to investigate a mysterious and horrible death at the Reform, London’s newest and grandest gentleman’s club—a death the club is desperate to hush up. What he soon discovers is a web of rivalries and hatreds, both personal and political, simmering behind the club’s handsome façade. At the center is its resident genius, Alexis Soyer, “the Napoleon of food,” a chef whose culinary brilliance is matched only by his talent for self-publicity. But Avery is distracted, for where is his mentor and partner in crime Jeremiah Blake? And what if this first death is only a dress rehearsal for something far more sinister?

This multicultural and interdisciplinary reference brings a fresh social and cultural perspective to the global history of food, foodstuffs, and cultural exchange from the age of discovery to contemporary times. Comprehensive in scope, this two-volume encyclopedia covers agriculture and industry, food preparation and regional cuisines, science and technology, nutrition and health, and trade and commerce, as well as key contemporary issues such as famine relief, farm subsidies, food safety, and the organic movement. Articles also include specific foodstuffs such as chocolate, potatoes, and tomatoes; topics such as Mediterranean diet and the Spice Route; and pivotal figures such as Marco Polo, Columbus, and Catherine de' Medici. Special features include: dozens of recipes representing different historic periods and cuisines of the world; listing of herbal foods and uses; and a chronology of key events/people in food history.

During the first half of the 19th century, Alexis Soyer became the most famous cook -and man-in London. In addition to his kitchen inventions and best-selling cookbooks, Soyer was part of many of the great events and social changes of his time. In her exciting biography of a culinary giant, Ruth Brandon uses each phase of his legendary career to explore a different aspect of 19th-century life, including the destruction of the English peasantry, the Irish potato famine, and Britain's disastrous involvement in the Crimea. Born in France, Soyer moved to England in his teens and rose to early fame as head chef at London's Reform Club, where he designed a kitchen so innovative that it became a tourist attraction. He opened London's first French restaurant, and was linked to some of the most famous actresses and dancers of the day. Yet for all his flamboyance, Soyer's fame lies in the work he did for those in need. He wrote cookbooks for the poor and designed a model soup-kitchen during the Irish famine. He traveled to the Crimea to manage the kitchens in Florence Nightingale's hospital, and invented a battlefield cook-stove that remained in use as recently as the Gulf War. Soyer's influence remains today with three of his books still in print. The People's Chef at long last pays tribute to this remarkable man who had such a profound effect on 19thcentury society.

Locating worthwhile books for kids can be a challenge in our contemporary culture. How can a teacher, catechist, or parent find reading material these days that reflects moral values and/or teaches something about God? In Really Good Books For Kids, catechist and author Janaan Manternach meets that need head on by providing an invaluable reference that presents an outstanding selection of children's books, along with valuable reviews of their entertainment and educational value. She has organized this guide to help readers locate books by subject matter (e.g., Books That Raise Moral Consciousness, Bible Storybooks, and Poetry) or by religious theme (e.g., Resurrection Stories, Christmas Stories). This unique reference is an ideal resource for parents and for anyone else entrusted with the care and upbringing of kids--especially teachers and catechists looking for the right books to read to their pupils and add to their fibraries. And Really Good Books For Kids is a perfect Baptism or First Communion gift for parents.

Foster the development of conventions and editing skills through frequent, focused practice using Daily Editing for students in grade 4. The book includes 180 activities that cover topics such as capitalization, punctuation, grammar, spelling, and sentence structure. The activities are presented as various writing examples, including journal entries, letters, and e-mails. This 192-page book includes practice pages, reviews, a proofreaderÕs marks chart, an editing checklist, a grammar glossary, and color-coded answer keys. The book supports NCTE standards and aligns with state, national, and Canadian provincial standards.