Newman’s Own Cookbook, Signed to Gore Vidal and with His Bookstamp
[Signed to Gore Vidal] Newman, Nell. Newman’s Own Cookbook. First Edition. 1985. Book is warmly inscribed on the flyleaf, “Dear Gore & Howard, I am not responsible for the tasteless humor, I only wrote the recipes. Love, Nell Newman, 1986.” Book is stamped “From the library of GORE VIDAL” on that same page. Text by A.E. Hotchner.
One of the 20th’s most notable and enduring friendships was that between National Book Award-winning writer Gore Vidal and Academy Award-winning actor Paul Newman. In fact, Newman’s daughter Nell, who compiled this cookbook was Vidal’s godchild and the inspiration for his oft-repeated quip, “Always a godfather, never a god.” Paul Newman was known among those in his circle as an excellent chef, and he was prouder of his skills in the kitchen than he was of his persona on the screen. His daughter Nell compiled his recipes into this book, which also includes snapshots of the actor cooking. The inscription in this copy refers to the groaner “dad puns” with which Paul Newman seasoned this cookbook.
“Another Newman law: put enough good wine in the fish sauce and your guests will never complain about the taste.”
--Paul Newman