“Les Dîners de Gala is uniquely devoted to the pleasures of taste… If you are a disciple of one of those calorie-counters who turn the joys of eating into a form of punishment, close this book at once; it is too lively, too aggressive, and far too impertinent for you.” — Salvador Dalí
A master of surrealism both on canvas and at the dining table, Salvador Dalí (1904–1989) brought his eccentric imagination to life in Les Dîners de Gala, the extravagant cookbook first published in 1973. Inspired by the legendary dinner parties he hosted with his muse and wife, Gala (1894–1982), this cookbook is a vibrant blend of art, food, and fantasy—offering readers a front-row seat to Dalí’s culinary wonderland.
Food and surrealism collide in this lavish reprint, which features all 136 recipes spread across 12 decadent chapters, including aphrodisiacs, and adorned with Dalí’s unmistakable illustrations. From sex and lobsters to the whimsical meeting of a swan and a toothbrush atop a pastry case, each page invites readers into a world where culinary art knows no bounds. Dalí’s own musings add flavor to the experience, as he offers eccentric takes on topics like dinner conversation, famously declaring, “The jaw is our best tool to grasp philosophical knowledge.”
The recipes—culled from some of Paris’s most prestigious restaurants like Lasserre, La Tour d’Argent, Maxim’s, and Le Train Bleu—range from extravagant seafood dishes to complex meat courses and rich desserts. While some require skill and a well-stocked pantry, each dish is a tribute to old-school French gastronomy and the art of indulgence.
By making this rare masterpiece accessible once again, TASCHEN presents more than just a cookbook—it’s an immersive work of art, a surreal culinary journey, and a celebration of sensual pleasures. Les Dîners de Gala is an invitation to savor the absurd, the opulent, and the deliciously unforgettable.