OP: Nobody Knows the Truffles I've Seen (unsigned)

Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1998. Hardcover. Near Fine. First printing.

Store founder Nach Waxman would say, “Oh sure, I knew George Lang,” and that might have meant something, except for the fact that everyone seemed to have known George Lang (1924–2011). This charming, volatile Hungarian, as he readily lets everyone know, was a bit short in stature, but, substantiating the cliche, definitely larger than life. 

In his memoir, Nobody Knows the Truffles I’ve Seen (1998), Lang brings his skills as a raconteur to the highest level. Combining a crazy quilt of anecdotes and structured narrative, he presents us not an autobiography but a succession of stories that entertain us, gives us glimpses of a world that few of us could have experienced, and introduce us to a breathtaking array of friends and, occasionally, antagonists.

Especially attractive for those who have dealings with the universe of food, will be the material on his work in catering and restaurants, most notably his two great culinary shrines, the Cafe des Artistes in New York and Gundels in Budapest. And, of course, the people who he encountered along the way, from chefs and writers to those like himself—lovers of the good life in all respects. 

Published by Knopf, the book is exquisitely designed, with many interesting personal photographs scattered throughout the text. All of the display type—from the title page to the chapter titles—is done in bold calligraphy. Lang was an accomplished calligrapher and all of that material is his own work. The copy we offer is a Near Fine first printing.