Have you tried any of the off-the-wall recipes in the  Dali cookbook yet?

Dining with Dali

Well, many would say that you probably haven’t missed much but Dali fans will be fascinated by this expectedly eccentric recipe list.

The introduction to ’Les Diners de Gala’, published in 1973, states that the book is…..

“… uniquely devoted to the pleasures of Taste. Don’t look for dietetic formulas here”

and carries on to warn the reader……

If you are a disciple of one of those calorie-counters who turn the joys of eating into a form of punishment, close this book at once; it is too lively, too aggressive, and far too impertinent for you.”

Recipes are exotic, erotic and experimental, including such delicacies as “Thousand Year Old Eggs”, “Veal Cutlets Stuffed With Snails”, “Frog Pasties”, and “Toffee with Pine Cones”

Punctuated by plenty of weird and wonderful Dali musings, and illustrations and photographs of the artist posing alongside laden banquet tables, Dali fans should be appropriately wowed!

This recipe book also  reinforces what fans already know about the relationship that this bizarre and quirky artist has with food, seen in several of his works, amongst which Lobster Telephone (1936) Self-portrait with Grilled Bacon (1941) and Portrait of Gala with Two Lamb Chops in Equilibrium upon Her Shoulder (1934),

Republished in 2016 to “bring it to today’s kitchens”! Many of the ingredients are probably not available in the local shops, but if you’re brave enough, there are several that could be tried at home. Bon courage!

Below is one of the few that could actually translate to the average kitchen without too much planning.

CASANOVA COCKTAIL

  • The juice of 1 orange
  • 1 tablespoon bitters (Campari)
  • 1 teaspoon ginger
  • 4 tablespoons brandy
  • 2 tablespoons old brandy (Vielle Cure)
  • 1 pinch Cayenne pepper

This is quite appropriate when circumstances such as exhaustion, overwork or simply excess of sobriety are calling for a pick-me-up.

Let us stress another advantage of this particular pep-up concoction is that one doesn’t have to make the sour face that usually accompanies the absorption of a remedy.

At the bottom of a glass, combine pepper and ginger. Pour the bitters on top, then brandy and “Vielle Cure.” Refrigerate or even put in the freezer.

Thirty minutes later, remove from the freezer and stir the juice of the orange into the chilled glass.

Drink… and wait for the effect.

It is rather speedy.


.….or if you want to be more adventurous….

Frog pasties

– 2 tbsp of butter
– 1 shallot, finely chopped
– ½ bunch parsley sprigs
– 1 clove garlic, crushed
– 36 small frogs legs
– 4 tbsp of flour
– 2 egg yolks
– 1 egg white
– 255g cream cheese shortening
– 255ml yogurt
– 1 container heavy cream
– 1 bunch chives, chopped
– 1 tbsp pepper (unground)
– salt

We highly recommend the book Dali – The Paintings available here from amazon. Ordering through this link costs the same as going direct but P-O Life get a commission from Amazon. So go on support P-O Life today and get a great book at the same time!