Mary Randolph

The Virginia Housewife; Or, Methodical Cook

"The Virginia Housewife; Or, Methodical Cook" by Mary Randolph is a housekeeping manual and cookbook published in 1824. Considered the first regional American cookbook, it contains nearly 500 recipes reflecting a distinctly Virginian style influenced by African, Native American, and European culinary traditions. The book features Southern classics like fried chicken and okra, the first curry recipes published in America, and instructions for making household items like soap and cologne. It offers insight into early American cooking and the influence of enslaved cooks.