Ella Kovács Szabó (1929-2009) emigrated from Hungary to the United States in 1956. A talented baker, she was a member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, a fund raiser for Les Dames d’Escoffier, and was initiated into the National League of American Pen Women. Sharon Hudgins is an award-winning author, editor, journalist, and culinary historian. Her books include T-Bone Whacks and Caviar Snacks: Cooking with Two Texans in Siberia and the Russian Far East (UNT Press) and Food on the Move: Dining on the Legendary Railway Journeys of the World.

“This is a delightful collection of rich Eastern European fancy cakes and pastries, so beloved of the coffeehouse culture of Budapest and Vienna. All the classics such as Esterhazy Torte, Linzer Torte, and Kugelhopf are here plus many others, some for the first time in English. Copious introductory material and the headnotes of the recipes are alive with Ms. Szabó’s reminiscences of life in old Budapest. This is a must for anyone who loves great cakes and pastries.” - Nick Malgieri, James Beard Award-winning author of How to Bake“This extraordinary collection of Hungarian tortes and homestyle dessert recipes will make you run to the kitchen to bake. The nut tortes - almond, walnut, hazelnut, pecan, macadamia nut - are astonishingly delicious, and the collection here is unique. The section on equipment and ingredients is masterful. Get your taste buds ready for a bunch of thrilling adventures.” - Greg Patent, author of Baking in America and A Baker’s Odyssey“My friend Ella Szabó’s life’s work was to share the unique canon of luscious Hungarian desserts with the world. In this book, she (and her daughter, Eve) bring her family’s heritage recipes to light, and the world is a better place for her efforts. Get ready to add some new favorites to your recipe box, direct from the authentic collection of this wonderful baker.” - Rick Rodgers, author of Kaffeehaus“Ella Szabó’s collection of recipes, and the stories accompanying them, is a treasure to read, and an important contribution to the canon of Hungarian cookbooks. Her story and the stories behind these recipes really transport the reader to the kitchens of the Hungary (and Central Europe) of many years ago. Her detailed explanations of the important baking techniques will go a long way to encouraging the reader to create these desserts at home.” - Carolyn Bánfalvi, tastehungary.com, Budapest“Ella Szabó is a true master of baking. This is a must-have cookbook for both baking enthusiasts and professionals alike - a magnificent showcase of traditional tortes, cookies, and the lost art of handwritten recipes to keep us all busy in the kitchen for a long time to come. Elegant Hungarian Tortes is a true work of art and glance into the love that Ella Szabó had for her craft.” - Chef Paul Kendeffy“There are no other books that have this wealth of Hungarian dessert recipes. The story behind the book is also unique and compelling. Herein are the original author’s priceless store of time-tested recipes, which might otherwise have been lost to the world. The background text is very readable and interesting, and the recipes are easy to follow.” - Edward Vajda, Professor of Linguistics, Western Washington State University

Ella Kovács Szabó (1929-2009) emigrated from Hungary to the United States in 1956. A talented baker, she was a member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, a fund raiser for Les Dames d’Escoffier, and was initiated into the National League of American Pen Women. Sharon Hudgins is an award-winning author, editor, journalist, and culinary historian. Her books include T-Bone Whacks and Caviar Snacks: Cooking with Two Texans in Siberia and the Russian Far East (UNT Press) and Food on the Move: Dining on the Legendary Railway Journeys of the World.

“This is a delightful collection of rich Eastern European fancy cakes and pastries, so beloved of the coffeehouse culture of Budapest and Vienna. All the classics such as Esterhazy Torte, Linzer Torte, and Kugelhopf are here plus many others, some for the first time in English. Copious introductory material and the headnotes of the recipes are alive with Ms. Szabó’s reminiscences of life in old Budapest. This is a must for anyone who loves great cakes and pastries.” - Nick Malgieri, James Beard Award-winning author of How to Bake“This extraordinary collection of Hungarian tortes and homestyle dessert recipes will make you run to the kitchen to bake. The nut tortes - almond, walnut, hazelnut, pecan, macadamia nut - are astonishingly delicious, and the collection here is unique. The section on equipment and ingredients is masterful. Get your taste buds ready for a bunch of thrilling adventures.” - Greg Patent, author of Baking in America and A Baker’s Odyssey“My friend Ella Szabó’s life’s work was to share the unique canon of luscious Hungarian desserts with the world. In this book, she (and her daughter, Eve) bring her family’s heritage recipes to light, and the world is a better place for her efforts. Get ready to add some new favorites to your recipe box, direct from the authentic collection of this wonderful baker.” - Rick Rodgers, author of Kaffeehaus“Ella Szabó’s collection of recipes, and the stories accompanying them, is a treasure to read, and an important contribution to the canon of Hungarian cookbooks. Her story and the stories behind these recipes really transport the reader to the kitchens of the Hungary (and Central Europe) of many years ago. Her detailed explanations of the important baking techniques will go a long way to encouraging the reader to create these desserts at home.” - Carolyn Bánfalvi, tastehungary.com, Budapest“Ella Szabó is a true master of baking. This is a must-have cookbook for both baking enthusiasts and professionals alike - a magnificent showcase of traditional tortes, cookies, and the lost art of handwritten recipes to keep us all busy in the kitchen for a long time to come. Elegant Hungarian Tortes is a true work of art and glance into the love that Ella Szabó had for her craft.” - Chef Paul Kendeffy“There are no other books that have this wealth of Hungarian dessert recipes. The story behind the book is also unique and compelling. Herein are the original author’s priceless store of time-tested recipes, which might otherwise have been lost to the world. The background text is very readable and interesting, and the recipes are easy to follow.” - Edward Vajda, Professor of Linguistics, Western Washington State University

Ella Kovács Szabó (1929-2009) emigrated from Hungary to the United States in 1956. A talented baker, she was a member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, a fund raiser for Les Dames d’Escoffier, and was initiated into the National League of American Pen Women. Sharon Hudgins is an award-winning author, editor, journalist, and culinary historian. Her books include T-Bone Whacks and Caviar Snacks: Cooking with Two Texans in Siberia and the Russian Far East (UNT Press) and Food on the Move: Dining on the Legendary Railway Journeys of the World.

“This is a delightful collection of rich Eastern European fancy cakes and pastries, so beloved of the coffeehouse culture of Budapest and Vienna. All the classics such as Esterhazy Torte, Linzer Torte, and Kugelhopf are here plus many others, some for the first time in English. Copious introductory material and the headnotes of the recipes are alive with Ms. Szabó’s reminiscences of life in old Budapest. This is a must for anyone who loves great cakes and pastries.” - Nick Malgieri, James Beard Award-winning author of How to Bake“This extraordinary collection of Hungarian tortes and homestyle dessert recipes will make you run to the kitchen to bake. The nut tortes - almond, walnut, hazelnut, pecan, macadamia nut - are astonishingly delicious, and the collection here is unique. The section on equipment and ingredients is masterful. Get your taste buds ready for a bunch of thrilling adventures.” - Greg Patent, author of Baking in America and A Baker’s Odyssey“My friend Ella Szabó’s life’s work was to share the unique canon of luscious Hungarian desserts with the world. In this book, she (and her daughter, Eve) bring her family’s heritage recipes to light, and the world is a better place for her efforts. Get ready to add some new favorites to your recipe box, direct from the authentic collection of this wonderful baker.” - Rick Rodgers, author of Kaffeehaus“Ella Szabó’s collection of recipes, and the stories accompanying them, is a treasure to read, and an important contribution to the canon of Hungarian cookbooks. Her story and the stories behind these recipes really transport the reader to the kitchens of the Hungary (and Central Europe) of many years ago. Her detailed explanations of the important baking techniques will go a long way to encouraging the reader to create these desserts at home.” - Carolyn Bánfalvi, tastehungary.com, Budapest“Ella Szabó is a true master of baking. This is a must-have cookbook for both baking enthusiasts and professionals alike - a magnificent showcase of traditional tortes, cookies, and the lost art of handwritten recipes to keep us all busy in the kitchen for a long time to come. Elegant Hungarian Tortes is a true work of art and glance into the love that Ella Szabó had for her craft.” - Chef Paul Kendeffy“There are no other books that have this wealth of Hungarian dessert recipes. The story behind the book is also unique and compelling. Herein are the original author’s priceless store of time-tested recipes, which might otherwise have been lost to the world. The background text is very readable and interesting, and the recipes are easy to follow.” - Edward Vajda, Professor of Linguistics, Western Washington State University