Commander's Palace New Orleans Cookbook Review - Collectibility

Commander's Palace Cookbook Dust Jacket Cover

Cookbook Title: The Commander's Palace New Orleans Cookbook
Author: Ella & Dick Brennan
Publisher: Clarkson N. Potter, Inc. Publishers
Copyright: 1984, First Edition
Format: Hardcover with dust jacket
Specialization Categories: Restaurant Cookbooks
Average Price: $8-9 used, $15-18 new ($25 signed by author)
Noted Recipes: Eggs Creole, Commander's Endive and Walnut Salad, Deep-Fried Catfish, Shrimp Croustade, French Bread Pudding with Clear Rum Sauce

COOKBOOK COLLECTIBILITY RATINGS RATINGS EXPLAINED
Availability: 3.0
Popularity: 5.0
Investment Outlook: 4.0
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Final Collectibility Factor: 4.0

As I've mentioned in earlier posts, my cookbook collecting specialization was restaurant cookbooks. These are still among my favorite finds. Though I've never eaten at many of the restaurants for which I find cookbooks, I can vicariously experience them through their great cookbooks and history found inside. This collectibility review is on one such restaurant--a place I'd love to visit but have never had the fortune to do so--Commander's Palace in New Orleans.

The copy I have in my personal collection, to my delight, is a rare copy as it contains the signature not of the owners (the Brennans) who authored the cookbook, but instead of Chef Emeril Lagasse who was Executive Chef at the Commander's Palace restaurant before he became a household name. In fact, he signed the book "Chef Emeril" vs. "Emeril Lagasse" which he does in his own cookbooks likely dating this back to the time he worked at the restaurant.

Commander's Palace New Orleans Cookbook - Availability Rating - 3.0
This book is widely available in both new and used copies at all the major book sites, auction sites, etc. Again, condition is king if a book is widely available, though a first edition is always best to find if collecting so I recommend a used first edition vs. new printing.

Commander's Palace New Orleans Cookbook - Popularity Rating - 5.0
Though not widely popular, I've rated this cookbook a 5.0 on my popularity scale as memorabilia from this restaurant are popular collectibles. I've seen everything from ashtrays to matchbooks being sold online. The restaurant itself is a landmark in New Orleans (as well as Las Vegas). The book is a great collectible for those of you who love restaurant cookbooks like I do.

Commander's Palace New Orleans Cookbook - Investment Outlook - 4.0
I believe a first edition of this book will increase in value over time. It will likely take years but the restaurant being the institution that it is, will make this book a popular collectible a decade or two from now. The book at that point will be 35-45 years old as it was published in 1984.

Commander's Palace New Orleans Cookbook - Final Collectibility Factor Rating - 4.0
Conclusion...Commander's Palace Cookbook is not a highly valuable book at the moment, but a nice investment for your collection as it will likely become a historic cookbook like the restaurant itself.