Food Was Love
Some of Roth’s cookbooks as they were found in his kitchen in CT, 2020.
Philip Roth owned several cookbooks which covered diverse cuisines—Italian, Chinese, French, Catalan, Indian, and more. Some of the cookbooks contain markings and we also found a recipe Roth printed from the internet (which is on display in the reading room of the Philip Roth Personal Library because it contains Roth’s notes).
When Philip Roth’s brother, Sandy, was asked about the importance of food in an interview, he responded: “My mother made three meals a day for as long as I can remember. Breakfast was made, lunch was made and dinner was made. And there was always, dinner was always a hot meal. Except for Saturday night, it was a big deal. I mean, Saturday night wasn't a big deal. Every night was a full meal. Oh, yeah and one must eat.” Sandy Roth added, “food was love.” [1]
The Philip Roth Personal Library wishes you a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with love. We are grateful for your support.
Reference:
Sandy Roth, Interview. n.d. A portion of this interview was included in: “Philip Roth: My True Story",” Arena, BBC 2 TV), 1993.