Ev Hanımlarına Mahsus Alafranga Pastacılık (Book: European Pastry Recipes For Housewives)

Mrs. Rabia Rıfat wrote a 39-page long pastry book in 1925. This is also a small booklet that consists of Western pastry recipes. Mrs. Rabia Rıfat gifted us a pastry book with great passion. Even this part of the story is quite passionate, isn’t it? So pure and sincere.

So, who was Mrs. Rabia Rıfat? “Granddaughter of a Russian grandmother and Kani Pasha, minister of finance in the Tanzimat era and; daughter of Young Turk Mr. Rıfat, who has spent his life on foreign affairs duties abroad in cities such as St. Petersburg, Paris, London and Mrs. Sare, who is the daughter of Mr. Kamil, Master of Ceremonies, whose nickname was “Mahşer Midillisi” (Pony of Judgment Day in English) and who maintained a European life style in his mansion; Mrs. Rabia is an Ottoman lady who was raised in a completely western style.” Writing articles on food and family life, Mrs. Rabia’s name appeared in the magazine “Türk Hayatı” (“Turkish Lifestyle”).

We are proud to have this 39-page book written in Ottoman Turkish alphabet by Mr. Rabia Rıfat in our library. In the book with 41 recipes, there are recipes for delightful dishes adapted from the West to Ottoman cuisine that can be served with five o'clock tea ranging from cakes to cookies, biscuits, bagels, pastries such as Savarin Cake, Baked Beans Cake, Sponge Fingers and Sesame Bagel.