A TASTE OF SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY

McKay, Mary

Old Southern Tea Room: Vicksburg Mississippi. A Collection of Favorite Old Recipes

A TASTE OF SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY PRESERVED IN RECIPES.
A charming regional cookbook preserving the recipes and traditions of the Old Southern Tea Room of Vicksburg, Mississippi. More than a collection of favorite dishes, this privately published volume captures the character of a local dining institution and the hospitality traditions associated with mid-twentieth-century Southern entertaining.

The recipes reflect the flavors and customs of Southern cooking, emphasizing rich sauces, carefully prepared desserts, and classic dishes served in a tea room setting. Among the offerings are Ham Sauce, Chocolate Sherry Sauce, Peach Flambé, and Chicken Liver and Mushrooms — recipes that reveal both the elegance and practicality of regional home cooking.

A SMALL RECORD OF A VANISHING TABLE.
Community cookbooks and tea room recipe collections preserve a culinary history rarely documented in commercial publications. This volume offers a glimpse into the food culture of Vicksburg during the mid-twentieth century, recording the dishes, tastes, and traditions that defined a local gathering place.

Among the recipes included are:
+++ Ham Sauce: A savory accompaniment that showcases the South's love for rich, flavorful sauces.
+++ Chocolate Sherry Sauce: A dessert sauce that blends the deep flavors of chocolate with the subtle notes of sherry.
+++ Peach Flambé: A dramatic and delicious dessert that highlights the region's penchant for peaches.
+++ Chicken Liver and Mushrooms: A dish that exemplifies the Southern tradition of utilizing all parts of the chicken, creating a flavorful and hearty meal.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Stapled decorated wraps. 6.5 by 9.5 inches. Recipes printed in cursive with decorative illustrations. [Pagination not stated]. Published in 1960.

CONDITION: Very Good. The binding is tight and square. Text is clean with light, even age-toning. Minimal shelf handling wear. Covers show toning and edge spotting. Tiny gift inscription to the top of the first page.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: THE TEA ROOM AS A RECORD OF SOUTHERN LIFE.
Small regional cookbooks such as Old Southern Tea Room document a form of culinary history often absent from larger published works. Created for a local audience, these volumes preserve not only recipes but also the social traditions surrounding hospitality, entertaining, and community dining.

This collection provides a window into Vicksburg’s mid-century food culture and the broader Southern tradition of preserving family recipes and regional identity through the shared language of food.

SUBJECTS: Southern Cooking, Vicksburg Mississippi, Mississippi Culinary History, Tea Room Recipes, Regional Cuisine, Southern Hospitality, Mid-Twentieth-Century Cooking, Local History, American Foodways, Cookbooks, Regional Cookbooks, Community Cookbooks, Culinary History, Southern Literature.

Item #20421

Price: $75.00