This cookbook collectibility review is on a restaurant I would love to visit but have never had the fortune to do so -- Commander's Palace in New Orleans.

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.

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.

Cookbook Title: The Commander's Palace New Orelans 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

Commander's Palace New Orleans Cookbook - Availability Rating - 3.0
As of today, about 70 or so of these cookbooks are available online in a variety of online bookstores--thus the availability rating of 3.0 (1.0 is widely available, while a 10.0 is extremely rare). The book can often be found in traditional used bookstores as well.

Commander's Palace New Orleans Cookbook - Popularity Rating - 5.0
The Pink Adobe Cookbook is not a household name as far as cookbooks go, but a pretty popular book given the restaurant's notoriety. I've had this book for sale in my cookbook store several times and it sells quickly every time. If you are familiar with the restaurant's staple fare, then you'll be happy to know that this cookbook contains many of them.

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.