rabelais home

So it’s almost summer, and we’re kicking things off with the release of Rabelais Catalogue #1, a full color listing of some of our rarest books on food and drink. Highlights include an original multi-panel watercolor from Haiti depicting the raising and butchering and cooking of hogs, a very rare inscribed first edition of Brillat-Savarin’s monumental Physiologie du Gout, a first trade edition of Owen Simmon’s Book of Bread, Betty Crocker’s Picture Cookbook in a scarce bookstand binding, and Jere Sullivan’s elusive Drinks of Yesteryear.

Rabelais is always serving up fine books about food, wine, farming and gardening. We carry a sizable stock of rare, out-of-print and new books, alongside prints, photographs and more, all concerned with the pleasures of the senses. We’re hosting author signings, art exhibitions and other events, so to keep up with what’s going on, check here. And for a glimpse of what others have had to say about the new shop, look in our press section.

You can find thousands of books on food and wine, from comfortable old favorites to haute cuisine, from southern fried chicken to molecular gastronomy. The emphasis is on books for the serious cook, or for the armchair epicure. Rabelais also serves those inclined toward thirst. We have books on first growth wines and home beer brewing, cocktail culture and saloon society. We’re very pleased to be serving the professional chefs and cooks of Portland and beyond, and involved with Maine’s Food community through organizations including the Maine Organic Farmer and Gardner Association and Slow Food Portland.

Current hours: open seven days a week. Our hours are Sunday 11-4, Monday through Thursday 11-5:30, Friday and Saturday, 11-7. Please come and visit.

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