#27. The Story of the Recipe Book Lucie Porges Made for Pauline Trigère

During the interview with Lucie Porges' daughters: Claudia and Vivette, I discovered the story of a special recipe book that Lucie had made for Pauline. After collaborating with Pauline for 15 years, finding new gift ideas had become difficult. One day, Lucie spotted a beautiful cork-covered blank notebook in a bookstore. Aware of Pauline's love for cooking, she had an idea to collect recipes from Pauline's friends.

It took more than a few years and the final outcome was special. It even landed an article by journalist Virginia Lee Warren, which was published in the New York Times on December 23, 1972 [HERE]. In the article, Virginia recounted how Lucie dedicated five years to assembling this highly personalized gift by sending the blank book to each of Pauline’s friends, who in turn contributed a recipe with their unique style. What made this cookbook so special wasn't just its cork-cover, but the personal recipes it contained from Pauline's inner circle. Each recipe offering a glimpse into the unique personalities of Pauline's friends. Notable contributors included renowned restaurateur Charles Masson from the famed restaurant Le Grenouille (Pauline's favorite restaurant), illustrator Joe Eula, as well as various writers and artists. The recipes ranged from a simple “Le Clafoutis aux Cerises” to the whimsical and delightful “Orange Juice,” which cleverly doubled as an invitation to visit.

Sadly, the recipe book is missing today.  It is believed one of Pauline's friend might have forgotten to return it after being circulated around. However, the idea of gathering recipes continued, which Lucie collected to compile another version from her close friends. This second book features various recipes from Pauline herself: her famous "Spaghetti Pauline" & "Rice Pauline" along with illustrations of garlic, mushrooms, and steamed pots, as depicted in the photos from this blog. These recipes are more than a collection of ingredients and instructions – they tell a story of the close friendship between these two women.

I hope one day I will find the original book that Lucie made for Pauline.  The research continues.