Theresa's Mixed Nuts: What A Swell Party It Was!

Monday, February 19, 2018

What A Swell Party It Was!

*Disclosure- I received the mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items.


My husband is really fascinated by American history and spends countless hours watching documentaries and reading about as much of our history as he can. One of the time periods that really intrigues him is the era right after prohibition's repeal. America was finally starting to rise back up after The Great Depression and people were ready to let loose. Since alcohol was no longer illegal to serve, the golden age of the American nightclub was born. Everyone wanted to be a part of the big-city life and a night out on the town enjoying good food, drink, and company was not just for the select few, but Average Joe could also kick back, even for one night, and enjoy a slice of the pie. Today we remember some of the most famous clubs of yesteryear for their celebrity clientele and entertainment, but the food and drink served at the clubs are also what made the nightclub experience a magical one. Now, I love learning about food as much as Jason loves learning about history, so I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of What A Swell Party It Was, a cookbook and cocktail book written by restaurant industry pioneer Michael Turback.    

What A Swell Party It Was

What A Swell Party It Was, Rediscovering Food & Drink From The Golden Age of the American Nightclub will take you on a journey through twenty five legendary nightclubs that thrived in the 1930s & '40s. I thought this was a book that Jason and I could both enjoy, him for the history and me for the food, and this book certainly did not disappoint either of us. We were both drawn into little snippets of history from famed clubs such as New York's The Copacabana and Chicago's Chez Paree.

What A Swell Party It Was

I admit, I knew of the clubs by name only, but after reading through the book I got a much better sense of what the clubs were about back then. The Cotton Club's entertainment was almost entirely made up from African Americans, The Rainbow Room required heroic spending, which made it a place that socialites liked to gather to rub elbows with A-list movie stars, and Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz were frequent guests at the Mocambo, where the club's main stage was replicated on the television series I Love Lucy as Ricky Ricardo's Tropicana Club. 

What A Swell Party It Was

After each mini history lesson on the nightclub, the book features several of the club's original menu recipes. Who wouldn't want to get their hands on The Stork Club's Walter Winchell Burger, The Latin Quarter's Pink Lady, or Ciro's Baked Alaska? With What A Swell Party It Was, you can get a taste of the nightclub golden age right in your very own home. As I flipped through the book, everything looked amazing and I wanted to make it all! Instead, I thought I'd treat my husband to a South Side Cocktail from Chicago's The Blackhawk since we do have a love affair with the city.


South Side Cocktail

 What you need for this recipe:

• 5 mint leaves + 1 for garnish
• 3/4 ounce simple syrup
• 2 ounces gin
• 3/4 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice

Muddle mint leaves and simple syrup in the bottom of a mixing glass. Add gin and lime juice and fill with cracked ice. Shake vigorously and double-strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with mint leaf, smacked to release the oils, floating on top of the cocktail. 

For myself, since I have such a sweet tooth, I thought I'd make The Stork Club's Coconut Snowball.


Coconut Snowball

What you need for this recipe:

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 6 scoops vanilla ice cream
• 1 can moist coconut shreds

Mix sugar and water in a heavy saucepan over low heat. Add chocolate, stirring constantly until fully melted and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. 

On each of 6 chilled dessert plates, place a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Top each with chocolate sauce and layer with the shredded coconut. 


Coconut Ice Cream
The original recipes include cocktails, entrees, main dishes, and desserts, so you are getting over 75 delicious recipes from one of the most fascinating American eras. I'm an avid collector of cookbooks, and am thrilled to have added What A Swell Party It Was to my collection. There are many recipes in here we'll be making time and time again. You can get your own copy though most major book retailers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble. 



Do you think you would you have preferred the food or entertainment in the nightclubs of yesteryear?


 

24 comments:

  1. I'd go with the food. Food is always good! I hung out at an arts and entertainment award ceremony just recently. I wish there was something to eat. Going through winners for 3 hours gets a bit boring. They did have some live acts to break things up.

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    1. I agree. You can never go wrong with food. A 3 hour event should most definitely have had some kind of snacks, even just little finger foods.

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  2. Stunning photo styling, deary!
    Seems like that books is gorgeously done visually too! Love the graphics!

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    1. Thanks dahlink! The book is very lovely to look through. I've been passing on cookbook reviews lately due to lack of time, but I couldn't resist this one. I have one more coming up, probably next week as well, but that one will be more family friendly.

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  3. Sounds like a wonderful read indeed. I'll stick with food of today though, at my show. Probably still as germy in some spots. What? lol Would have been fun to visit such spots though.

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    1. I think if I had a time machine, I would definitely go back and visit these clubs at the height of the era. I am sure it would have been a blast!

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  4. Wow! This cook and cocktail book seems exceptional, Theresa. I would love to prepare that cocktail as it seems mouth-watering!

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    1. You know, I'm not even a drinker and thought the cocktail was delicious. Some of my favorite recipes are the simple ones made with just a few ingredients like they did back in those days.

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  5. This cookbook sounds amazing! Recipes with history are always the best, and these have the MOST. I have to add this book to my cooking library.

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    1. Our grandmothers certainly could whip up some of the best meals, couldn't they? None of that overly fancy stuff we see today. I also love recipes with history behind them. They really are the best!

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  6. I love a cookbook that gives a good historical story with the recipes. That dessert is a great one that I need to make soon.

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  7. Oh this is really neat. I can see it being a lot of fun diving into the past and trying out some of the famous drinks and recipes. The cocktail and snowball you tried definitely looked good.

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  8. Wow, that looks so neat. I love the beautiful drink and snowball.

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  9. Inspiring book indeed! It must be thrilling to try all those all-time favorite and famous drinks!

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  10. What lovely photos and inspiration. Now I need a cocktail!

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  11. Sounds like your husband and my husband will get along very well. I think this cookbook is a must have! I love that it contains old recipes! So cool!

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  12. I don't even like the nightclubs of thisyear

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  13. I don't drink much so not sure how I would have done back in the day, but the food... I am always up for some delicious food. That cookbook looks fabulous, love the photos and info in it.

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  14. This sounds like a great read! Would love to try those on the menu! Looks and sounds delicious!

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  15. That does sound like a fun book to pick up. I don't usually get cookbooks (dust collectors in my house, lol) but this one I might, and I saw a recipe magazine by Valerie Bertinellli that I might get too. Time to get a' cookin and get out of this same old same 'ol rut.

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  16. The food every time! I'm all about good entertainment, but if the food isn't good, well it kind of ruins the vibe!

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  17. This looks like a fun hosting book. I would love to own this book!

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  18. Looks like an interesting book. I'd be interested in reading about the nightclubs. I like food but am not much into collecting cookbooks.

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Thanks for your comments! I appreciate every one of them :) Except promotional posts with added links. Those will be deleted.

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