Retro Recipes from
America's Kitschiest Kitchen
Written by Michael Feder
and Karan Feder
Liberace was an American Icon with his over-the-top style, his brilliant
music and his larger than life personality. Liberace could fill a room,
whether he was performing on stage or entertaining a small group. His
museum with gift shop, café, stage and some of his possessions as well as
his foundation to benefit other musicians is a testament to the man even
though he passed away over 20 years ago.
Joy
of Liberace Retro Recipes from America's Kitschiest Kitchen written by
Michael Feder and Karan Feder is a step-by-step guide to retro recipes that
define comfort food from another time and era that we still desire today.
Created with the Bling Cooking™ expert chefs at the Riviera Hotel and Casino
(one of Liberace’s favorite places where he performed for over 20 years),
these dishes express Liberace’s love of food, demonstrates that he was quite
the chef and was a successful restaurateur (he owned Tivoli Gardens before
selling to the Carluccio family). Chef Cindy Ellis spent a month assembling
an inspiration folder and Chef Paul Martinez (son and protégé of Tom
Martinez, the longest serving pastry chef on the Strip) convinced the
Riviera to give him a budget to purchase the embellishments for recipes.
Bling Cooking™ is presented as flamboyant over-the-top meals where LOOKS is
the important ingredient, not any nutritional value. Now taste is equally
significant and we all know that comfort food and retro cooking is SO GOOD.
A Bling Cooking™ demand that the dish is presented as outlandish as well as
it is delicious in flavor.
Just
to give you an idea, you can find recipes for Gilding-the-Lily Lasagna,
Chicken à l à King of Bling!, Flamboyant Flambé of Sirloin, Brawny Austrian
Torte, Spaghetti Butter and Cheese OH MY, Fruit Fruiter Fruitiest Salad,
Salamiami Bouquet, Russian Salad and Tchaikovsky Loved This Salad and Weenie
Broil.
For
a temptation, here is the recipe for Angel Bling Cake Pie:
Two
egg whites
Pinch of salt
1/2
cup sugar
1/8
teaspoon cream of tartar
3/4
cup chopped nuts
One
cup heavy cream
One
teaspoon vanilla
Preheat oven to 275 degrees (F). Beat the egg whites with salt until almost
stiff. Beat in the sugar, a tablespoon at a time. Add cream of tartar and
nuts. Spoon into a greased nine-inch pie plate and bake about an hour. Cool.
Whip the cream, add vanilla, and spread over the pie. Chill. Serves six
people
As
for cooking blunders, a story is related how Liberace was preparing his
Liberace’s Lasagna when he reach for a familiar green and red foil can to
sprinkle grated parmesan cheese. To his horror, the lasagna turned blue and
he realized he had sprinkled cleanser instead. Even Liberace had to make
due with take out food that night.
The
cookbook itself is a glossy colorful collection of recipes, photos of
Liberace, (many that have never before published) and a time capsule of the
50s and 60s. But Liberace was a man who would have fit in today and this
book is a great bridge between those who remember an earlier time and those
who want to experience that era today. Karan had to research nearly every
image in the archive owned by the Liberace Foundation to find those with a
food theme as well as those showing Liberace in all of his glory.
Author Karan Feder is an award-winning Hollywood costume designer who has
designed many productions for film, television and stage. She also spends
time knee-deep in rhinestones and bugle beads as part of her restoration and
conservation efforts for the Liberace costume and image archives. Her
signature Karan Feder handbag collection was honored with the prestigious
Fresh Face Award and enjoys a global following.
Author
Michael Feder is a lifelong entrepreneur with a background in law and
business. He leads the licensing efforts for the Liberace Foundation, and is
the unfeathered friend of Olive, the fine-feathered parrot, as well as
author of Olive Parrot Shares Her Birthday. Together the Feders are the
authors of Liberace, Your Personal Fashion Consultant and are principals in
Fame Farm, which creates and executes branding strategies for celebrity
clients. The couple lives in Las Vegas.
A
portion of the proceeds from the sale of Joy of Liberace benefits the
Liberace Foundation for the Performing and Creative Arts scholarship
program. The book is officially sanctioned by the Liberace Foundation and
the book can be purchased at the Liberace Museum as well as online.
The
Liberace Museum and Foundation
Liberace Plaza at 1775 E. Tropicana Avenue (at Spencer Avenue).
Las
Vegas, Nevada 89119
The
Museum occupies two buildings separated by the parking area.
798-5595
www.liberace.org
Hours
The
Liberace Museum is open:
Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday from Noon to 4 p.m.
Closed Mondays.
