Do you remember your first?

Last night, my husband and I were invited to an impromptu dinner at our friends' new hillside home.  As expected from these two dynamic people, the evening was flawless and once again, our usually 5 hour meal went by in a flash.  

But I have a confession.  Amongst all the sensory beauty and comforts of their home, while feasting on the delicious lamb, chocolate fondue and wines …the one thing that really set my heart racing was when I passed by their stacks of cookbook on the kitchen counter.  No joke!  Like an art thief tempted by a Picasso, I could barely control myself.

Talking it out, I shared with them details of my very first…cookbook.  Going back to first grade, during a field trip at the Oakland Public Library was when I first picked up a hardbound copy of "Miss Leslie’s Directions for Cookery" –an 1851 classic.  I was six years old and just beginning to understand English, with no idea of how to cook or even how to turn on the stove.  None the less, I was completely fascinated by the author’s narration of recipes and cooking tips …so much so that I checked out the book, and have never returned it since.  That’s my second confession.

Indeed this hobby (aka, an incurable obsession with collecting cookbooks) has been a labor of love and evidence of my passion for defining foods and learning history.  That said, my private collection of international and multilingual cookbooks now nears 3000 with no intention of ceasing anytime soon.  I’ve purchased most books; some were gifts …and a few more have been “borrowed” through the years.  My last confession…I probably need therapy.