Neiman Marcus Cookbook Hardcover – October 14, 2003

The book I received was second-hand but in excellent condition. It contains loads of recipes that were served in the NM restaurants, particularly the Zodiac Room. The recipes cover most of my old favorites and brought back wonderful memories of getting a special treat - lunch with my grandmother around Easter and afterwards she bought us a new dress and an Easter pin. Over the years, friends and I have enjoyed a rare splurge to celebrate a wedding, birthday, divorce, etc. Honestly this was a completely random items that I purchased on impulse and am now so glad to own.

Once upon a time -- not all that long ago, really -- even cities nicknamed "backwater," located in states that the movers and shakers tend to fly over but seldom visit, had downtown department stores. Many of these stores had revolving front doors flanked by uniformed doormen. Men who shopped dressed in business suits, and the female clientele usually wore dresses. Some wore hats and gloves, too, and clutched handbags.Shopping back then did not seem to be a hobby, addiction, sport or pasttime about which people joked or swore they were "born" to do. Shopping in elegant department stores always seemed to be an experience, however. Lingerie was as apt to be called "unmentionables," and sales clerks kept inventory in slide-out drawers lined with sachets and tissue paper. Sweaters and robes and skirts, if bought, might be presented to the buyer in an enameled carboard box, in a string-tied package, or in a handled shopping bag made of expensive paper.In short, the experience was Gabor Sisters-fabulous.And, for the hungry, thirsty and weary, these department stores often had cafeterias, tea rooms or restaurants. In the days when lunch at our family's house might mean a grilled cheese sandwich or a bowl of vegetable soup, having a meal at a department store was indeed a treat.I'm thinking of the L.S. Ayres and Shillito's of my girlhood, both of which had a midwestern presence until the 1980s, at least. And both boasted restaurants with white tablecloths and mouth-watering strawberry pies and fabulous sandwiches.Dallas, home of Neiman Marcus, was too far from my home for me to have visited, but its restaurant was surely to what the department stores in my neck of the woods aspired, which is why the Neiman Marcus Cookbook was a must-have. At my state's largest shopping mall, located in Lexington, no flagship department store has a restaurant anymore. People wanting to grab lunch choose from the fast-food court. If the offerings, or anything close to the offerings on the Neiman Marcus restaurant menu are to be found, I have two choices: visit a higher-end restaurant, or create the dishes at home. Sadly, I can no longer have such an experience at a local department store.That does not mean I've said goodbye to the fare, though. I often choose to entertain company in my home, and I have the privilege of serving dishes from this cookbook. I am able to treat guests to something special, something not to be found anywhere else. Take this cookbook's Crab Louis Parfait, served in -- you guessed it -- a parfait glass. This is among several stand-out recipes, both by title and by the cookbook's glossy photo. I promise, guests will never forget when you serve them something from this book.Be careful not to pass over recipes for dishes with which you are already familiar. This happened when I romped through and saw Italian Cream Cake included. Upon closer examination, I noticed the addition of a pastry cream filling. Ya, ha! Other Italian Cream cakes are good; this pastry cream filling hits it out of the park, and if I'd not turned the pages slowly for a good look, I'd have missed out.Whether you're looking to treat friends and family, plan a baby or wedding shower, treat a mom on Mother's Day, delight your valetine or simply cook for the joy of doing so, you can't go wrong with this volume.

Great recipes, history, and photos

I grew up in Dallas, Texas with my mother taking me to lunch at the famous Zodiac Room of Neiman Marcus in Downtown, Dallas. What wonderful memories. Even today when you go to the restaurant they always serve you a wonderful cup of there famous chicken broth and a fresh popover. Recently I had a friend with serious surgery and her rehab required her to eat little or no fiber.I ordered this beautiful book so I could get the broth recipe and made her containers of this famous broth along with homemade noodles, poached chicken and rice. She was in tears from the gift.The broth is time consuming but so worth it, and many of the recipes in the book start from the basic broth. It freezes well.I have all Helen Corbitt's cookbooks ( She was the creative genius behind all Neiman Marcus food from the beginning of the famous Zodiac Tearoom. This book is a wonderful addition to my collection. Sherry

I worked my way through college at the downtown Houston Neiman Marcus during the 60s. The restaurant was fabulous. It was a huge treat for us to eat there and lunch was not expensive but uniquely different. As I went through the cookbook the memory of those days came back. I could actually smell the dishes that were put in front of me long, long ago. As I progressed in life I would continue to drop in from time to time - in the 80s my office was two blocks from the San Francisco store and eating in the second floor rotunda of the old City of Paris beautifully renovated brings back wonderful memories. The recipies are genuine and unusual - Helen Corbitt was a renowned chef in the Texas area and brought a whole new level to dining when she headed up the Neiman MArcus cuisine department. Great buy - highly recommended!

This book is filled with some wonderful food from a bygone era when cream, fat and salt were used without reservation. The recipes often invovlve several stages but are worth the effort as the results can be really terrific - example the popovers. There is an entire section on the preparation on the basics . It is a beautifully illustrated book and the closest thing to Neiman Marcus' signature food without actually going there.

Cookbook looked new! I would go to the Zodiac room to eat with my mom and sister. It has all the wonderful recipes from the 60s.

At last, the secrets of the wonderful food at Nieman Marcus restaurants is revealed! The Fresh Market pecan tuna salad recipeis revealed as well as the Nieman Marcus chicken salad. And guess what? The secret behind that wonderful strawberry butter for the warm popovers is a real shortcut. Some of the recipes are a little complicated, but there are plenty of simple ones for salads and sandwiches. The book is so beautiful to look at even non-cooks would enjoy it. When I first saw it, I thought to myself, this would make a great Christmas gift. And now Oprah is on the same page since she featured it in her annual Christmas show.This cookbook made her "Favorite Things" 2003 list for Christmas.