– **History:**
– Anna Thomas wrote her first cookbook, “The Vegetarian Epicure,” in 1972 while a film student at UCLA.
– The book had a significant impact on the natural foods movement within the American counterculture.
– Thomas was considered a guru in the kitchens of many young people turning to vegetarianism in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
– The success of the book was attributed to its departure from the ascetic approach in American vegetarian cookbooks.
– Thomas focused on introducing pleasure to American vegetarian meals.
– **Additional Cookbooks:**
– Thomas has published a total of four additional cookbooks.
– Her next two books after “The Vegetarian Epicure” were also vegetarian-focused.
– The final two books included a mix of vegetarian, vegan, and meat-based dishes.
– Notable titles include “The Vegetarian Epicure, Book Two” (1978) and “Vegan Vegetarian Omnivore.”
– **Awards and Nominations:**
– Thomas was nominated for the James Beard Foundation Award in the Vegetarian category for “The New Vegetarian Epicure: Menus for Families and Friends” in 1997.
– **Bibliography:**
– “The Vegetarian Epicure” was published by Alfred A. Knopf in 1972, spanning 305 pages.
– The second book, “The Vegetarian Epicure, Book Two,” was released in 1978 with 401 pages.
– “The New Vegetarian Epicure” came out in 1996, containing 450 pages.
– Each book was published by Alfred A. Knopf and carries an ISBN for identification.
– **References:**
– Jonathan Kauffman’s “Hippie Food” discusses the impact of counterculture on food habits.
– Warren Belasco’s “Appetite for Change” explores how counterculture influenced the food industry.
– Various articles and interviews provide insights into Thomas’s work and influence on vegetarianism and cooking trends.