Les Diners de Gala

Salvador Dalí’s cookbook Les Diners de Gala (1973) opens with the warning: “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.” Named for his wife Gala, Dalí’s cookbook reflects the artist’s lifelong dream of becoming a chef and features 136 extravagant recipes for dishes like Thousand Year Old Eggs, Cytherean Meatballs, and more. Dalí also created a series of illustrations for the cookbook that depict his indulgent treats, but with a surrealist twist. For example, Dalí’s portrayal of a crayfish tower appears delicious, until a closer inspection reveals the upper body of Joan of Arc, arms gushing blood atop the feast.