I'm thrilled with a new book a guest gave me tonight. Joy's cousin has been here every summer all the years I've cooked here, and his late mother was one of the most memorable characters in my time at the chateau. 'Auntie Daisy' to us, she was officially known as the Baroness de Cabrol. She and her husband Fred were known for the fabulous parties they gave, for charity, throughout the 50s, 60s and 70s. They were great friends with the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Salvador Dali, the Rothschilds, the Baron de Rede, Charles de Beisteigui, Yves Saint-Laurent - all the beautiful people who entertained in a style we can't even imagine today. The Surrealist Ball, the Beisteigui Ball in Venice (called the party of the century, in pre-paparazzi days), the Ball des Tetes, the Proust Ball, the Bird Ball. Such eleborate costumes. Imagine renting the Cirque d'hiver in Paris for a private party, with people dressed as fantastical ice creatures, orchestras, an elaborate dinner, and ice skating. modest dinner dresses

As the Baron de Rede famously quipped, 'either you were there, or you weren't. ' Eric's mother was one of the last of a generation who were 'there,' and I miss cooking for her.

A few years ago Eric helped publish a book about those people, called Cafe Society. Now he's released his father's famous sketchbook diaries of the parties they gave, or attended. I love reading about these events, and I enjoy being a small part of a more modest continuation of that kind of entertaining.

John Robert Massie you should take a look at Beautiful People of Cafe Society. It might inspire you to collect your own social memoirs and find a way to present them. You've had such a fascinating life!