Maurice des Ombiaux / Marie Laurencin - Les Belles à table - 1926

Les Belles à Table, Suivi du Coup du Milieu.

Praising the role of the woman in establishing a beautiful and good meal.

24 x 19 cm, paperback.

In good condition, book preserved under glassine paper.

First edition printed in 400 numbered copies with one original etching by Marie Laurencin.

Included is an etching by Marie Laurencin, identical to the frontispiece.


“Quel est le gourmand assez dépravé pour préférer une beauté maigre et chétive à ces énormes et succulents aloyaux de Limoges ? [...] Pour un vrai gourmand, il n’est pas d’oeil bleu, de dents blanches et de lèvres roses qui vaillent une truffe noire...” The second part is the history of the “trou normand.” (Oberlé, 290).

‎Maurice Desombiaux, aka Maurice Des Ombiaux (1868 - 1943), was a Belgian journalist and writer. An ardent defender of Walloon culture, he is notably the author of books on gastronomy and wine that have earned him the title "Prince de la Treille", the title "Prince of Gastronomes" having been attributed to Maurice Saillant, known as Curnonsky.