Product Description

Marta Sgubin came to the United States in 1969 as governess to Caroline Kennedy and John F. Kennedy, Jr. She regarded the move as temporary and was secretly planning to return to Europe very quickly. Twenty-five years later, when Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis died, Marta was still with her.

When she first arrived, Marta was an unusual combination of extreme sophistication and unexpected naïveteé not surprising, since she spent the first half of her young life in San Valentino -- population 400 -- in the north of Italy and the second half in the palazzos and chateaux of various world capitals as nanny and then as companion to the daughter of a wealthy French diplomat. She had always addressed the mother of her French charge as "Madame," in the formal European way. In the new household, she called the newly married Mrs. Onassis "Madam" in the mistaken belief that that was the English version of the term. Eventually Mrs. Onassis explained its meaning in English and the slightly risqué connotation, but begged Marta not to stop using it because it was "so cute."

After the children left for boarding school, Marta stayed on with the family. Her role, naturally, changed and evolved from governess to housekeeper and, finally, to friend, until she became an indispensable part of the household. She ran everything, but she shone especially as a gifted cook. Whether it was birthday parties for Caroline and John over the Thanksgiving weekend in New Jersey, a barbecue on the porch of the beach house on Martha's Vineyard, or a fast but elegant dinner on Fifth Avenue before the ballet, Marta was always there, cooking for Madam.

And now Marta has gathered nearly 100 of the family's favorite recipes and garnished them with her reminiscences in Cooking for Madam. She offers the special green sauce she served with poached salmon and, in passing, tells the story of Chester, the pigeon she trained to come to the kitchen window in New York. Everyone can enjoy Marta's famous scrambled eggs and, as the eggs are being stirred in a double boiler, can read about how they were traditionally served at Christmas breakfast to Mrs. Onassis and her family.

The food covers the culinary spectrum from the Christmas dinner entrée, Loin of Veal Stuffed with a Morel Mousse (the recipe originally called for sweetbreads, but Madam didn't care for them, so Marta created an acceptable substitute) to the Chocolate Roll Caroline always requested on her birthday. Here is Uncle Teddy's favorite lobster salad (made with fresh corn, but no celery), the mashed potatoes Jack Schlossberg was so proud of that he had Marta come and make them for his nursery school class, and the Shepherd's Pie Diana Vreeland pronounced the best she had ever eaten.

There have been millions of words written about Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, but never before by a member of her household. Marta, as she herself says, "confines herself to the kitchen and the dining room." But within those cozy boundaries Marta offers a loving tribute to the woman she knew as well as anyone -- the committed mother, the doting Grand Jackie, and the wry commentator on family life.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #375769 in Books
• Published on: 1998-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 224 pages

Amazon.com Review
When Marta Sgubin joined Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis's household in 1969, she thought her job as companion to John Jr. and Caroline Kennedy temporary. Twenty-five years later, she was still with the family, as cook, household manager, and friend to "Madam," who urged Sgubin to compile her repertoire of simple but elegant dishes. Sgubin's Cooking for Madam: Recipes and Reminiscences from the Home of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis presents nearly 100 of the family's favorite recipes plus dozens of never-published snapshots, most in color, of Mrs. Onassis, her family, and friends. Readers interested in an intimate glimpse of the Kennedy-Onassis household, as well as those seeking delicious, reliable dishes for everyday meals and for entertaining, will welcome Sgubin's book.

The recipes, arranged by seasonal menus and preceded by Sgubin's recollections, run the gamut from Oeufs Toupinal, a simple egg, ham, and potato dish that was served to Hillary Rodham Clinton on a tray, to the dressier Veal Stuffed with Morel Mousse, a dish Mrs. Onassis preferred without the sweetbreads it originally called for. Included also are a hearty shepherd's pie, a favorite of Diana Vreeland; Caroline's much-loved Chocolate Roll; and Floating Island, a John Jr. pick. The company dishes are outweighed by the informal fare, and most cooks will have no trouble preparing either. Sgubin's book succeeds as both cookbook and insider's tribute, showing us a remarkable personality through the food she enjoyed and the people she loved. --Arthur Boehm

From Library Journal
Originally hired as Caroline and John's nanny, Sgubin became Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis's cook once the children were grown and stayed with her for 25 years until her death. This is by no means a "tell-all" book; Sgubin, who came from an Italian town of 400 people, was encouraged by Caroline and John, as well as Jackie, to write her cookbook, and she comes across as totally unassuming and down to earth (not that there aren't some amusing or endearing glimpses into Kennedy life). Most of the recipes are simple and classic (Hillary Clinton got stuffed baked potatoes with bechamel sauce and poached eggs when she came to lunch; Diana Vreeland always wanted Marta's Shepherd's Pie), with each family member's favorites (Uncle Teddy's Lobster Salad) included by request. Sure to be in demand.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author
Marta Sgubin is still very much a part of the family, cooking festive meals for Caroline and Edwin Schlossberg and their three children. Because Marta was born Italian, brought up French, and besides those languages and English, also speaks Spanish, Portuguese, and Greek, she was helped in the writing by Nancy Nicholas, whose first language is English.

Customer Reviews

Priceless insight into the private world of a legend
This book is one of the best books you could ever hope to own if you are an admirer of the late Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. A whole new perception of Mrs Onassis emerges after reading the truly uniqe perspective that Marta had while living with and working for Mrs. Onassis. The fact that it was a book endorsed and even encouraged by John Kennedy Jr and his sister Caroline makes it a trasure in any Jackie Onassis collection. The never before seen private photos of Mrs. Onassis and views of the inside of her homes on Martha's Vineyard and 1040 5th Avenue is alone worth the price of the book. First hand accounts of Mrs. Onassis' daily life and special occasions told with such personal memory makes it a must have for all that admired Mrs. Onassis from afar. We will never get to meet her, but reading this book and looking upon the exclusive photos will help the reader feel a bit closer to the beauty and complex personality that was Jackie. Please feel free to email me if you are a Jackie Onassis fan. Id love to hear from you.

A book worth sharing
I plan to pick up several copies of this book to give out as gifts... at first I was turned off by an apparent "insider" book by someone trying to capitalize off the fame of a celebrity... I looked further when I realized the book had actually been endorsed by the Kennedy family themselves. I read and collect recipes as a hobby - I started looking at the recipes and thought, hey, these are really good. Since bringing the book home I find myself taken in by the warm personal style... I usually don't like cookbooks that surround the recipes with a lot of chat... this book is a one-of-a-kind for me...and I find myself enjoying the narration as much as the recipes. I am glad to see so many readers feel the same. After reading the professional and customer reviews, I'm convinced that I will be buying several more copies for friends who will enjoy the book as much as I do.

Wonderful, easy to follow recipes, warm memories
The recipes are wonderful and easy to follow and the vignettes are lovely.

It is refreshing to see a book written about Jackie and her family from one who truly loves and rrespects them.