In John Kennedy Toole’s iconic novel, Ignatius J. Reilly is never short of opinions about food or far away from his next bite. Whether issuing gibes such as “canned food is a perversion,” or taking a break from his literary ambitions with “an occasional cheese dip,” this lover of Lucky Dogs, café au lait, and wine cakes navigates 1960s New Orleans focused on gastronomical pursuits.
For the novel’s millions of fans, Cynthia LeJeune Nobles’s “A Confederacy of Dunces” Cookbook offers recipes inspired by the delightfully commonplace and always delicious fare of Ignatius and his cohorts. Through an informative narrative and almost 200 recipes, Nobles explores the intersection of food, history, and culture found in the Pulitzer Prize–winning novel, opening up a new avenue into New Orleans’s rich culinary traditions.
Dishes inspired by Ignatius’s favorites—macaroons and “toothsome” steak—as well as recipes based on supporting characters—Officer Mancuso’s Pork and Beans and Dr. Talc’s Bloody Marys—complement a wealth of fascinating detail about the epicurean side of the novel’s memorable settings. A guide to the D. H. Holmes Department Store’s legendary Chicken Salad, the likely offerings of the fictitious German’s Bakery, and an in-depth interview with the general manager of Lucky Dogs round out this delightful cookbook.
A lighthearted yet impeccably researched look at the food of the 1960s, “A Confederacy of Dunces” Cookbook reaffirms the singularity and timelessness of both New Orleans cuisine and Toole’s comic tour de force.
Cynthia LeJeune Nobles is a New Orleans–based food writer and the author of several books on cooking and Louisiana foodways, including “A Confederacy of Dunces” Cookbook: Recipes from Ignatius J. Reilly’s New Orleans and The Delta Queen Cookbook: The History and Recipes of the Legendary Steamboat.
Praise for "A Confederacy of Dunces" Cookbook
“If you’re a die-hard Kennedy fan – or if you love New Orleans – you need to know about “A Confederacy of Dunces Cookbook,” so full of Ignatius J. Reilly’s favorite foods from the 1960s you’ll add blubber just reading it.”—Charlotte Observer
“So how can this stinky, slovenly sloth possibly inspire a cookbook? You'll have to read A Confederacy of Dunces Cookbook to find out. But let me tell you that no fictional slob ever prompted such a charming nonfictional study of New Orleans food history. . . . An important, endearing appreciation of Toole's great, treasured work.”—Houston Chronicle
“Nobles has achieved perfection, in my opinion, with her book. It is everything “Dunces” fans want it to be: It captures the same love of the city that the book does, and the recipes are numerous and incredible. It will make any reader fall in love with New Orleans, A Confederacy of Dunces and the good living of the city all over again.”—Devour Wilmington
