ckbk, a new service providing digital access to the world’s best cookbooks, today announces that it is making Robert Carrier’s classic cookbook, Great Dishes of the World, available online for the first time.
Great Dishes of the World had a huge impact on its publication in 1963, and went on to sell more than 10 million copies in numerous editions. According to cookbook editor Jill Norman, “With Great Dishes of the World, Carrier persuaded readers to look beyond their usual culinary boundaries and to experiment, inspired by his confident and exuberant style.” When the 1000 Cookbooks project asked chefs and authors to identify the cookbooks which most influenced them, Great Dishes of the World was one of the top choices.
Shaun Hill, a Michelin-starred chef who started his career in Carrier’s London restaurant, welcomed the news:
“Robert Carrier is an underrated influence. His food was unashamedly luxurious, with plenty of cream, eggs, butter and wine. The menu included classic dishes from the era’s best French restaurants, and Middle Eastern and North African dishes like Moroccan Koftas. It all tasted good in a joyful and exuberant way. Great Dishes of the World was one of his most successful books and is still an inspiring read.”
Following Carrier’s death in 2006, the ownership of rights for Great Dishes of the World has been unclear. ckbk is finally able to make it available thanks to recent legislation which helps to bring such ‘orphan works’ out of legal limbo. Following a ‘diligent search’ for the rights holder, Great Dishes of the World has now been officially registered as an orphan work with the UK Orphan Works Register, operated by the Intellectual Property office. The register will collect (and hold in trust) license revenue on behalf of the rightsholder, until they can be identified. Any who may be able to help identify the rightsholder concerned is encouraged to contact ckbk.
Matthew Cockerill, ckbk’s CEO, said “Our mission is to give cooks the inspiration they need and to help them discover dishes from the world’s diverse range of cuisines. We are extremely happy to be able to include Robert Carrier’s iconic work on ckbk, and we look forward to adding many further such “lost classics” in future.”
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