Cooking With Columbo:
Suppers With The Shambling Sleuth:
Episode guides and recipes from the kitchen of Peter Falk and many of his Columbo co-stars
ISBN 9781981417421
ASIN B079QW5SFM
I ran across this volume while working on a piece on the TV Series. Over nearly a year I watched the complete run of Columbo, while researching an article I wrote as an overview on the series I discovered this cookbook, two series of novels and other volumes related to the sleuth.
The description of this book states:
“Grab your rumpled raincoat, chomp down on a cigar, and rattle those pots and pans! It’s time to braise, broil, chop, chill, grill, roast, and poach with world’s most beloved sleuth!
Columbo super-fan, Jenny Hammerton, offers an episode by episode guide to the food and drink so prominently featured throughout the greatest television detective series ever made.
She guides you through cherry-picked, episode-specific recipes, and suggests ways to make your Columbo party, the talk of the town. Beyond the expected hard-boiled eggs and chili, you’ll find many other ideas for delicious dinners that are sure to entice every armchair detective.
Jenny is the proprietress of the wildly popular, Silver Screen Suppers blog site. She has plundered her archive (of more than 7000 movie star recipes) for the favorites of The Lieutenant himself, Peter Falk, and those of his many stellar co-stars.”
Another description is:
“Grab your rumpled raincoat, chomp down on a cigar, and rattle those pots and pans! It’s time to braise, broil, chop, chill, grill, roast, and poach with world’s most beloved sleuth! Columbo super-fan, Jenny Hammerton, offers an episode by episode guide to the food and drink so prominently featured throughout the greatest television detective series ever made. She guides you through cherry-picked, episode-specific recipes, and suggests ways to make your Columbo party, the talk of the town. Beyond the expected hard-boiled eggs and chili, you’ll find many other ideas for delicious dinners that are sure to entice every armchair detective. Jenny is the proprietress of the wildly popular, Silver Screen Suppers blog site. She has plundered her archive (of more than 8,000 movie star recipes) for the favorites of The Lieutenant himself, Peter Falk, and those of his many stellar co-stars. Rustle up a big batch of Johnny Cash’s perfectly-seasoned Chili for a screening of Swan Song (with lots of chums). Serve Dick Van Dyke’s delectable Breast of Chicken Florentine to your sweetie, while watching Negative Reaction. Pamper yourself with Janet Leigh’s heavenly Cheese Soufflé, an indulgent dinner for one, with Forgotten Lady to entertain you.
“Food is an ever-present and enjoyable ingredient of the show. I can only commend author Jenny for her passion for the subject matter and her devotion to the Columbo cause. What you have here, is a fantastic collection of recipes suitable for every occasion. ”The Columbophile, internationally renowned Columbo expert.”
About the author we are informed:
“Jenny Hammerton is a film archivist who is obsessed with what her Hollywood film idols liked to eat and drink. She's been collecting the signature dishes of her favourite actresses and actors for many years and has been writing about them since 2006 on the Silver Screen Suppers website.
She runs worldwide monthly Dinner and a Movie events on Substack - everyone is welcome! Visit the Silver Screen Suppers website to find out more.”
I have started a rewatching of the Columbo Television Series, mainly while cooking or eating to have something on in the background.
Some of the recipes in the volume are:
Anne Baxter’s Genuine Swiss Quiche
Anthony Andrews’ Chicken in a Brick
Ben Gazzara’s Leg of Lamb, Sicilian Style
Billy Connolly’s Stuffed Trout
Celeste Holm’s Celestial Chicken
Dick Van Dyke’s Breast of Chicken Florentine
Donald Pleasance’s No-name Curry
Eddie Albert’s Butterfly Leg of Lamb
Gene Barry’s Kibbee
George Hamilton’s Ginger Snap Dandy
Hector Elizondo’s Famous Pasta Pomodoro
Ida Lupino’s Hot Pot Casserole
Jack Cassidy’s City Chicken
Jack Cassidy’s Quickie Green Bean Casserole
Jack Cassidy’s Rainbow Trout in a Pouch
Jackie Cooper’s Curried Eggs and Macaroni
Janet Leigh’s Cheese Souffle
Jeanette Nolan’s Sizzling Liver with Walnuts
John Cassavetes’ Minted Beef
Johnny Cash’s Chili
Jose Ferrer’s Eggs Ferrer with Fried Potatoes
Laurence Harvey’s Chicken Pie
Lee Grant ’s Malibu Chicken
Leonard Nimoy’s Potatoes La Jolla Chez Jay
Nicol Williamson’s Steak Mince and Stovie Potatoes
Oscar Werner’s Weiner Schnitzel
Patrick O’Neal’s Ragout de Boeuf Bourguignon
Peter Falk’s Barbecued Spare Ribs
Peter Falk’s Pork Chops and Vinegar Peppers
Peter Falk’s Pumpkin Lasagna
Peter Falk’s Simple Avocado
Peter Falk’s Veal Scallopini and White Wine
Ray Milland’s Chicken Chow Mein
Ray Milland’s Lobster Salad
Ricardo Montalban’s Asparagus Soup
Richard Basehart’s Beans and Frankfurters
Robert Conrad’s Infamous Hangover Eggs
Robert Vaughan’s Mushroom Stuffed Zucchini
Rod Steiger’s Chicken Grand Marnier
Ross Martin’s Beef in Anchovy Cream
Ruth Gordon’s Zucchini Omelet
Shera Danese’s Italian Stuffed Peppers
Susan Clark’s Shrimp Curry
Theodore Bikel’s Glorified Meatloaf
Trish Van Devere’s All Day Chilli in the Pot
Valerie Harper’s Summer Squash
Vera Miles’ Mexican Casserole
Vincent Price’s Hollandaise Sauce
William Shatner’s Lime-Garlic Broiled Chicken
William Shatner’s Steak Picado
The chapters in the book are:
Foreword
Introduction
Prescription: Murder - 1968
Ransom For A Dead Man - 1971
Murder By The Book -1971
Death Lends A Hand - 1971
Dead Weight - 1971
Suitable For Framing - 1971
Lady In Waiting - 1971
Short Fuse - 1972
Blueprint For Murder - 1972
Etude In Black - 1972
The Greenhouse Jungle - 1972
The Most Crucial Game - 1972
Dagger Of The Mind - 1972
Requiem For A Falling Star - 1973
A Stitch In Crime - 1973
Th6 Most Dangerous Match - 1973
Double Smock - 1973
Lovely But Lethal- 1973
Any Old Port In A Storm - 1973
Candidate For Crime - 1973
Double Exposure - 1973
Publish Or Perish - 1974
Mino Over Mayhem - 1974
Swan Song - 1974
A Friend In Deed - 1974
An Exercise In Fatality - 1974
Negative Reaction - 1974
By Dawn’s Early Light - 1974
Troubled Waters - 1975
Playback- 1975
A Deadly State Of Mind - 1975
Forgotten Lady- 1975
A Case Of Immunity - 1975
Identity Crisis - 1975
A Mater Of Honor - 1976
Now You See Him - 1976
Last Salute To The Commodore - 1976
Fade In To Murder - 1976
Old Fashioned Murder- 1976
The Bye-Bye Sky High I.Q. Murder Case - 1977
Try And Catch Me - 1977
Murder Under Glass - 1978
Make Me A Perfect Murder - 1978
How To Dial A Murder - 1978
The Conspirators - 1978
Columbo Goes To The Guillotine - 1989
Murder, Smoke And Shadows -1989
Sex And The Married Detective - 1989
Grand Deceptions - 1989
Murder: A Self Portrait - 1989
Columbo Cries Wolf - 1980
Agenda For Murder -1990
Rest In Peace, Mrs. Columbo - 1990
Uneasy Lies The Crown - 1990
Murder In Malibu -1990
Col-Umbo Goes To College - 1990
Caution: Murder Can Be Hazardous To Your Health - 1991
Columbo And The Murder Of A Rock Star - 1991
Death Hits The Jackpot - 1991
No Time To Die - 1992
A Bird In The Hand - 1992
It’s All In The Game - 1993
Butterfly In Shades Of Grey- 1994
Undercover - 1994
Strange Bedfellows - 1995
A Trace Of Murder - 1997
Ashes To Ashes -1998
Murder With Too Many Notes - 2001
Columbo Like The Nightlife - 2003
Columbo's Chili And Other Delights
Recipe Sources
Acknowledgments
Test Cook’s
Author’s Note
About The Author
The chapters are based on the episodes in the order they appeared. Some recipes we encounter on screen, and some are from the guest stars. The author on her website has photos of the various recipes and how they turned out. But it appears all the recipes were taken from other sources. And we are provided that list at the end of the volume.
The Columbophile wrote the forward, and is a world famous researcher into the series and the character. That forward begins with:
“When I first heard word of this Columbo cookery book, I was skeptical, to say the least. A book featuring recipes for chili, hard-boiled eggs, and black coffee was bound to be a pretty thin volume, surely?
But then I had a think about the role food played in Columbo. And I realized it’s a pretty important one. From the Lieutenant cooking an omelet for Joanna Ferris in Murder by the Book to him whipping up scaloppini for Paul Gerard in Murder Under Glass; from him gulping Dr. Keppel’s caviar in Double Exposure to assisting Dexter Paris on a live cookery show in Double Shock, food is an ever-present and enjoyable ingredient of the show.
Beyond the confines of the show itself, I had also never considered that the favorite recipes of Columbo stars might have been immortalized in magazines and books of a by-gone era. The 70s really were special times.
Having had the opportunity to have a sneak preview of this book prior to its publication, I can only commend author Jenny for her passion for the subject matter and her devotion to the Columbo cause. What you have here, is a fantastic collection of recipes suitable for every occasion, from a light dinner for one to opulent banquets for a house full of friends.
And that got me thinking again. If we were to host a magnificent, 70s-style feast using the recipes found here, which Columbo stars would be top of the guest list? Here’s my list. And naturally, you’re very welcome to join us. Lieutenant Columbo and Mrs. Columbo were invited, of course, but they had a bowling league dinner dance to attend, so can’t make it. Those tickets cost $17.50 a couple, you know...”
And food does play a big role in the show. A few meals cooked by Columbo himself, and meals partaken with others. Columbo’s go to foods during the show are Hard Boiled Eggs, Chilli, Hotdogs and Canapes. This volume goes beyond that. For each episode we are given some background information and then a recipe.
The biggest drawback of the volume is there is no index of recipes or of contributors. For example William Shatner:
William Shatner’s Steak Picado
William Shatner's Lime-Garlic Broiled Chicken
William Shatner's Deluxe Hamburgers
I have tried a few recipes and William Shatner's Lime-Garlic Broiled Chicken is my favourite so far. The concept is a unique ideal. And there are some great recipes to try and interesting stories. But I think it could have been excellent with and index of Who and main ingredients, ad a list by types, mains, sides, …
Overall an interesting cookbook. One I am glad I gave it a try. I will do a few of the other offerings from the book. But design could have really some work.
Books about Peter Falk or Columbo:
Columbo Phile - A Casebook - Mark Dawidziak
Shooting Columbo - David Koenig
The Columbo Companion, 1968-78: Investigating Every Detail of All 45 'Classic Era' Columbo Adventures - The Columbophile
...
Related Posts:
...
Columbo Books:
A Christmas Killing - Alfred Lawrence
The Dean's Death - Alfred Lawrence
Any Old Port in a Storm - Henry Clements
By Dawn's Early Light - Henry Clements
Murder by the Book - Lee Hays
A Deadly State of Mind Book - Lee Hays
The Columbo Collection – William Link
…
Books by Jenny Hammerton:
Murder, She Cooked: A Cabot Cove Cookbook
Supper with the Stars: With Your Host Vincent Price
For ladies only? Eve's Film Review
Cooking With Joan Crawford
Cooking The Detectives: A Bite Sized Guide to the Tastiest TV Detective Shows
…
