Thomas Jefferson's Creme Brulee: How a Founding Father and His Slave James Hemings Introduced French Cuisine to America

This was an interesting and well researched book that approached Thomas Jefferson from a different angle. It was too bad that this man who was so sensitive to plants and the environment was so insensitive to his fellow human beings. He died too in debt to free his slaves, yet he had over 600 bottles of wine in his cellar. He enslaved even his own children. Really difficult to be as sympathetic to him as this author was. But the book is very informative and fascinating, and I learned a lot about French cooking.

lots of good information. I was initially disappointed by the lack of readable recipes. The few recipes that are there are copies of original hand written recipes, thus very hard to read, obviously not meant to be tried as a cook book. But once I got over that, I was delighted in the connections between Jefferson, his slaves, the Enlightenment movement, Monticello, and France. I really did enjoy the book and I learned a lot.

Book is in like new condition. I wouldn’t be able to tell this one from a “new” book off the shelf. Very pleased with the book and how fast it got here. We are reading this for a book/dinner club. I’m looking forward to it!

A very interesting book. It shows the true roots of French cuisine here in America. It also gives you a glimpse into the differences in American and European society. The book also serves as a grim reminder of slavery in the U.S. I don't know that I'd trust any of the recipes though - they're hard to read and the techniques and tools (i.e., hot shovel) are outdated. I did find the recipes interesting from a historical perspective though.

HOW A FOUNDING FATHER AND HIS SLAVE JAMES HEMMINGS INTRODUCED FRENCH CUISINE TO AMERICA IS MISLEADING. IF YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THOMAS JEFFERSON, HIS POLITICAL LIFE, HIS FOOD INTEREST, HIS GARDENS, HIS TIME IN PARIS THEN YOU MIGHT LIKE THIS. I WAS DISSAPOINTED THAT JAMES HEMMINGS IS RARELY MENTIONED AND THERE APPARENTLY ARE NOT MUCH RECORDS OF HIM AT ALL. I MUST SAY I LEARNED NOTHING NEW OF JAMES HEMMINGS AND NOTHING NEW ABOUT THOMAS JEFFERSON. IT IS WELL WRITTEN AND DOCUMENTED, I DID ENJOY CRAUGHWELL'S STYLE, WOULD CONSIDER BUYING HIS BOOKS IN THE FUTURE. I JUST HOPED TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW AND I DID NOT.

I would give this five stars except for the misleading title. I am very interested in Thomas Jefferson so I'm enjoying this book. There were a lot of details about him, his time in France and a lot of information about France at the time. If that's what you're interested in, it's great. I don't know why the author even mentions James Hemmings in the title because I'm halfway through the book and he's mentioned, I think, twice. Definitely an afterthought.

I read this book and loved it. It is a peek into Jefferson's life in Europe. You understand him better as a human being, an entrepreneur, a politician, and, ahah, as a rascal. I thoroughly enjoyed this book; I've gifted it many times to my friends who love him OR love gourmet food OR love to argue over politics. It is very giftable. All who have read it have raved about it. It can be read in several hours or in one long evening. I highly recommend it, esp if you are interested in knowing about Jefferson -- juicy tidbits or much more about his life and times.

This book opened my eyes on how important Thomas Jefferson not only was to our political history but to our cultural and food history. He did so much in his lifetime that this book should be required reading if you are pursuing a career in the Hospitality Industry (especially the food service industry). I so enjoyed reading this book I planned to re read this book once I finish my present book by T.D. Jakes on forgiveness! Both books are very timely in today's environment!

Fascinating

Was very disappointed in this book, thought there would be more recipes in this book the one or two that are you can't read no clear at all. Its about a trip to Europe. not a cook book at all. The author wasted my time. Not at all what I was lead to believe

Let's say 3 1/2 stars. I wonder if this started as Craugwell's PhD thesis because that's how it reads. MASSES of footnotes, which I didn't bother with (although I normally would) because I was reading the Kindle version and just couldn't figure out how to do it efficiently. It's an interesting book about Jefferson; how many of us read anything about early America after we finish school? So the history was useful and Jefferson was interesting - clay feet and all - but as for this purporting to be the history of James Hemings, his inherited-from-his-father-in-law slave (and the father in law's bastard son), well, there was much more surmise than fact. Which, given that Hemings probably didn't keep a diary, nor did anyone think to write anything down about him, makes sense. But the title is somewhat misleading. I had actually thought to make some of the recipes, particularly the creme brulee, but again, given the Kindle version, I couldn't read the photocopies of anything. Worth a read, but only if expectations are managed.

A different perspective of Thomas Jefferson. It details his trip to Europe in the 18th Century with his black chef and the recipes they discovered and subsequently brought back to the US which influenced American cuisine. A gentle read, nothing startling.