The National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center Cookbook 1983, revised 1984, I have the 1987 printing
It must have been sold for quite a few years because it is both signed by director Mstislav Rostropovich (who apparently retired in 1992 and contributed a recipe for Slava’s Siberian Pelmeni) and there is a note giving indicating the book was given as a gift to “Mom” from Danny & Debi on July 24, 1990. Or they gave “Mom” a used book.
I think this book has the fanciest recipes of any community cookbook I’ve come across. As it says in the first page the NSO travels throughout the US and around the world and the selection of the recipes reflects the spirit of these journeys. Now I’ve seen Mozart in the Jungle but I don’t think it suitably prepared me how much caviar musicians consume.
There are some illustrations credited to Carol Wisdom–silhouette drawings of musicians. The contributors are all named but only a handful have their connection to NSO or the world listed A few recipes like Cep Soup from Kaarina Kaurinkoski (who also includes a helpful hint for swapping barley for rice)note her connection to the Embassy of Finland and Janet Perry’s Braised Star Anise Beef makes it clear she is an NSO Member and there are a few restaurants listed alongside recipes they contributed but most contributors are a mystery. It makes me wonder how they sourced the recipes.
Some of the recipes have helpful hints about serving, what dishes go well with the recipe, and where the recipes originated. Many do come from major cities across the country and there are a ton of international dishes.
