Culture / Art Republik

Dali Cookbook “Les diners de Gala” Reissued

Salvador Dali’s “Les diners de gala” cookbook, out of print for many years, has been reissued.

Nov 24, 2016 | By Allysha Nila

Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? With Salvador DalĆ­, itā€™s hard to tell. If you thought his paintings were hard to stomach, wait till you feast on this deliciously absurd masterpiece.

Taschen has blessed us by reincarnating this erotic compendium of twisted delicacies. Originally published in 1973, the rare cookbook Les Diners de Gala had previously been out of print (with only 400 copies in existence). This reprint includes everything the first-edition features, not only including recipes, but also documenting the extravagance of a Dalƭ dinner party. Picture this typical soirƩe: Gala reclining on a giant velvet bed the entire night caressing her pet lion, everyone in outrageous costumes, the presence of animals and, for dinner, fish (sole, of course) served in satin slippers.

The book is as dizzyingly deranged as any DalĆ­ banquet. For instance, an entire section is devoted to aphrodisiacs and then there are the amazing photographs of his guests (most notably Audrey Hepburn in a birdcage headpiece). Recipes include Frog Pastries, and Conger of the Rising Sun. These are accompanied by lithographs such as Sodomised EntrĆ©es, Nocturnal Cravings and Autumn Cannibalisms ā€“ surreal compositions that do their shocking titles justice.

Dali cookbook

While originally slathered in gold foil, the new edition features the same cover illustration by DalĆ­.

Surprisingly, these are real recipes that are the results of collaborations with Lasserre, La Tour dā€™Argent, Maximā€™s and Le Train Bleu ā€“ a crĆØme de la crĆØme legion of Parisian restaurants in their heyday. So yes, they are, in fact, edible. If youā€™ve got a curious palate and mind (and perhaps the required culinary skills), we encourage you to get this and get cooking.

This story was first published in l’Officiel Singapore.


 
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