The Pavlova Story
A slice of New Zealand’s culinary history
Key Points
• First book on subject – an entertaining look at pavlova history.
• Highly and colourfully illustrated.
• Includes recipes for 12 classic pavlovas.
Book
While Australians and New Zealanders have long debated which country invented the pavlova (a large meringue dessert cake said to emulate the lightness of the famous ballerina, Anna Pavlova), the real story of the ballerina’s visit to the Antipodes and the emergence of three different pavlovas was neglected.
The contributions of a gelatine manufacturer, a Dunedin spinster, and numerous other New Zealand housewives are all revealed in this fascinating contribution to food history. The book shows the evolution of the three pavlova types, that their recipes have never been set in stone, and that creative and innovative cooks have played the most important roles in transforming a fashionable afternoon tea cake into an iconic dessert.
Contents
1 The Pavlova Wars 2 Why Pavlova? 3 The First Pavlova 4 Rose Rutherford’s Little Pavlovas
5 The First Large Pavlovas 6 Pavlovas from 1935 to 1950 7 Pavlovas Come of Age, 1950–59
8 Pavlovas Consolidate, 1960–79 9 Pavlovas Paramount, 1980–99 10 Some Sticky Issues
11 Why Pavlovas are Important Index
Review Quotes / Awards
• Winner 'Food Book of the Year' at the New Zealand Guild of Food Writers' Culinary Quills Awards 2009
• Lifestyle and Contemporary Finalist, Montana Book Awards 2009
'The Pavlova Story will set your sweet tooth singing. From gelatin to meringue, little to large, uncooked to microwaved, Leach explores pavlovas of all shapes, sizes and ingredients ... Leach's thorough research is relayed in a relaxed, readable style and is nicely complemented by a range of colour illustrations. Even more delightful is the inclusion of classic pavlova recipes – converted to metric, remade and photographed by food-writer Mary Browne.'
– New Zealand Memories, Issue 80 October/November 2009
'The Pavlova Story is superbly written, informed and informative, making it highly recommended reading for anyone with an interest in distinctive regional and cultural culinary traditions in general, and the pavlova tea cake in particular.'
– Wisconsin Bookwatch, November 2009 (Midwest Book Review)
'The carefully placed illustrations, old advertisements, and book covers from Leach’s collection enliven her book and make it fun. Written in a style that is somewhat chatty, it will appeal to both interested cooks and more serious students of culinary history with its well researched and documented details.'
– Gastronomica, Summer 2009
Author
Helen Leach is a Professor of Anthropology at the University of Otago.
Her research interests include the evolution of the human diet and prehistoric horticulture. She has written two garden history books: Cultivating Myths: Fiction, Fact and Fashion in Garden History (2000) and 1,000 Years of Gardening in New Zealand (1984), co-authored nine others, and published over 60 articles in international and New Zealand journals.
Social/Food History
paperback, 192 pp, 69 illustrations, many in colour
ISBN 978 1 877372 57 5
$40 approx
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