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Hallelujah! The Welcome Table: A Lifetime of Memories with Recipes Audiobook
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(4.01) - 459 listener ratings
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Throughout Maya Angelou’s life, from her childhood in Stamps, Arkansas, to her world travels as a bestselling writer, good food has played a central role. Preparing and enjoying homemade meals provides a sense of purpose and calm, accomplishment and connection. Now in Hallelujah! The Welcome Table, Angelou shares memories pithy and poignant—and the recipes that helped to make them both indelible and irreplaceable. Angelou tells us about the time she was expelled from school for being afraid to speak—and her mother baked a delicious maple cake to brighten her spirits. She gives us her recipe for short ribs along with a story about a job she had as a cook at a Creole restaurant (never mind that she didn’t know how to cook and had no idea what Creole food might entail). There was the time in London when she attended a wretched dinner party full of wretched people; but all wasn’t lost—she did experience her initial taste of a savory onion tart. She recounts her very first night in her new home in Sonoma, California, when she invited M. F. K. Fisher over for cassoulet, and the evening Deca Mitford roasted a chicken when she was beyond tipsy—and created Chicken Drunkard Style. And then there was the hearty brunch Angelou made for a homesick Southerner, a meal that earned her both a job offer and a prophetic compliment: “If you can write half as good as you can cook, you are going to be famous.” Maya Angelou is renowned in her wide and generous circle of friends as a marvelous chef. Her kitchen is a social center. From fried meat pies, chicken livers, and beef Wellington to caramel cake, bread pudding, and chocolate éclairs, the one hundred-plus recipes included here are all tried and true, and come from Angelou’s heart and her home. Hallelujah! The Welcome Table is a stunning collaboration between the two things Angelou loves best: writing and cooking.
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"Something is wrong with you if you don't love Maya Angelou! I could read this as a memoir keeping it by my bedside, regardless of whether or not there are recipes to follow in this book! But there are wonderful recipes here, and little stories to read along the way to keep you entertained while something is in the oven. I could do without the acknowledgment to Oprah and the mention of her in a recipe or two, as there is too much Oprah in the world as it is, but hey - it's Maya and I can forgive her for that. Thank goodness Oprah isn't riddled throughout the book."
— Dutch (5 out of 5 stars)
Hallelujah! The Welcome Table Listener Reviews
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" This book was written for me! At least, I think it was. She's an amazing story teller and she made me want to make everyone single recipe in the book! Can't wait to try the Caramel Cake! "
— Jasmine, 2/18/2014 -
" This is part memoir, part cookbook. Most of the recipes are beyond what I would even try as I like it simple, but the best find for me was Decca's Drunkards Chicken, which is very easy but so tasty. "
— Shelley, 2/15/2014 -
" This was a beautiful book, which included a variety of recipes that Angelou publishes to recount life stories. It really makes you want to sit down and eat. There is a delicious recipe for caramel cake that will make your mouth water. "
— Leticia, 2/14/2014 -
" Maya's southern cooking recipes are paired with some of her own "life experience" stories. I think I liked her stories better than her recipes...she is one bright, creative and talented woman to be greatly admired. "
— Barb, 2/9/2014 -
" Not a big fan of Angelou's prose but her life experiences are so interesting that the book is hard to put down. The recipes look very delicious as well. "
— Laura, 1/16/2014 -
" Each chapter is a short anecdote illustrated with one of Maya's recipes. (Who knew she was a devoted cook?) Pleasant, light reading...with great color photos of food, too. Makes you hungry. "
— Linda, 1/13/2014 -
" i love her way of telling stories! and i love cookbooks that are like this one ~ before recipe's or chapters, the author tells personal stories about the food! "
— Jo, 1/12/2014 -
" The essays were interesting, but the recipes were not particularly compelling. I don't think this book would have ever been published if it weren't written by Maya Angelou. Definitely not her best work. "
— Heather, 12/26/2013 -
" It was great fun to listen to it while cooking on a Sunday night. "
— Anna, 12/16/2013 -
" I enjoyed hearing Maya Angelou read her book. "
— Kristen, 12/6/2013 -
" who knew maya angelou was a foodie? it's a lovely recollection great southern cusine and rib-sticking recipes. great read... "
— Aarti, 11/11/2013 -
" I enjoyed the stories that were before the recipes "
— Deana, 10/17/2013 -
" I absolutely loved the stories she shared with each recipe. Many of her writings spoke to my heart at a difficult time in my life. "
— Krista, 8/25/2013 -
" In addition to wonderful recipes the author infuses great stories of memories associated with the recipes. Two great books in one. "
— Melissa, 5/1/2013 -
" This book was a gift, and although I haven't cook anything from this book,I love the stories. The recipes look delicious, I just happen to be the 30 minute or under sort of cook. Eventually I might try something from here. "
— Santina, 4/23/2013 -
" Well I haven't really read this whole book, seeing as it's a cookbook, but I did read just about all of the stories that connected to the different recipes. All of them were fantastic. I have also tried some of the recipes and I would highly recommend those also. "
— Dominique, 2/15/2013 -
" This is another memoir/cookbook. I like this format for a cookbook...the stories behind the recipes. Very interesting. "
— Lesley, 1/15/2013 -
" I got this book after I saw Mother Angelou in person. In her honor I wanted to build my library... "
— Marilyn, 1/10/2013 -
" I love Maya Angelou. The stories that accompany the recipes are so interesting. "
— Andrea, 9/18/2012 -
" Dr. Angelou narrates the audio version which is a real treat, but book contains recipes and pictures -- choose both versions! "
— Glenda, 9/12/2012 -
" One of my favorite books. "
— Erik, 8/16/2012 -
" I've only read parts of it. It's a cook book with some interesting recipes. I like the stories but I haven't read it all. "
— Mary, 8/2/2012 -
" I pick this book up every so often just because I love this woman so much. She is one of my personal heroes and I adore her. I think tomorrow night I'm making her fried meat pies. "
— Shelby, 6/28/2012 -
" Love the stories behind all of her great and thoughtful dishes. Not for one watching their calorie or fat intake but super fun for special occasions and always a great story to tell with dinner (hers!). "
— Jennifer, 4/14/2012 -
" Buy, cook the food and laugh and cry at the stories. "
— Connie, 12/15/2011 -
" Great stories and even better recipes! "
— Jennifer, 11/22/2011 -
" A great woman, with great stories, and great recipes. Is there anything she can't do? "
— Michelle, 9/8/2011 -
" Always worth the time to read her books! I have to say that this is one of my favorites! "
— Carrie, 9/5/2011 -
" I laughed and I learned from the wise and courageous Maya Angelou the Namesake of one of my children. I could hear her voice tell the stories and sharing these simple and delicious recipes southern and others. I'm encouraged to make Eclairs!! LoL.. So glad I found this. What a gift! "
— Michele, 8/26/2011 -
" In a word: phenomenal. I've yet to try a single recipe - the stories themselves are worth every red cent. "
— Emma, 8/10/2011 -
" Great stories and even better recipes! "
— Jennifer, 3/31/2011 -
" Loved this book! I enjoyed reading about the parts of her life in which the various dishes featured as well as the wonderful recipes. I highly recommend it. "
— Meera, 3/27/2011 -
" It was OK. Not as great as some of her other books, and the stories are wrapped around recipes. "
— Jana, 1/17/2011 -
" Great recipes with stories from Maya Angelou's life. What could be better! Okay, unless she came over and cooked them for you and told you the stories while she did. "
— April, 1/7/2011 -
" Wow, I really liked this book. I love Angelou's voice anyway, but add to that stories that are about cooking and life around the table - from poverty to the high life - and I'm more than satisfied. I appreciate her humor and her honesty. "
— Little-g, 6/29/2010 -
" I love this cookbook. The stories and the recipes are both wonderful. "
— Joline, 6/22/2010 -
" This book was written for me! At least, I think it was. She's an amazing story teller and she made me want to make everyone single recipe in the book! Can't wait to try the Caramel Cake! "
— Jasmine, 6/20/2010 -
" A great woman, with great stories, and great recipes. Is there anything she can't do? "
— Michelle, 6/11/2010 -
" The essays were interesting, but the recipes were not particularly compelling. I don't think this book would have ever been published if it weren't written by Maya Angelou. Definitely not her best work. "
— Heather, 2/8/2010 -
" This audio cd was narrated by the author and was a collection of enjoyable, cute short stories from Maya Angelou's life. It was short and fun to listen to. "
— Ryann, 12/7/2009 -
" I got this book after I saw Mother Angelou in person. In her honor I wanted to build my library... "
— Marilyn, 11/11/2009 -
" Dr. Angelou narrates the audio version which is a real treat, but book contains recipes and pictures -- choose both versions! "
— Glenda, 9/28/2009 -
" This is a wonderful book of memories that are tied to recipes. I recommend it for the insight into Ms Angelou's life and for the recipes which are wonderful! "
— Janice, 9/18/2009
About Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou (1928–2014) was a singer, actress, dancer, activist, filmmaker, writer, and mother. In addition to her bestselling autobiographies she wrote several volumes of poetry, including “On the Pulse of the Morning” for the inauguration of President Clinton. She was given a lifetime appointment as Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, and in 2010 President Barack Obama awarded her the Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor.