Rufus Estes

author

Rufus Estes

1857–1939

Born into slavery and later celebrated for cooking on luxury Pullman railway cars, this pioneering chef turned a remarkable life into one of the earliest and most influential African American cookbooks. His work offers a vivid taste of American food culture at the start of the 20th century.

1 Audiobook

Good things to eat, as suggested by Rufus : a collection of practical recipes for preparing meats, game, fowl, fish, puddings, pastries, etc.

Good things to eat, as suggested by Rufus : a collection of practical recipes for preparing meats, game, fowl, fish, puddings, pastries, etc.

by Rufus Estes

About the author

Rufus Estes was an American chef and cookbook author, born around 1857 in Tennessee. As a child he was enslaved, and after emancipation he built a career in service and cooking that eventually took him onto the luxury private railroad cars of the Pullman Company.

Estes became known for preparing elegant meals for wealthy travelers and prominent business figures, developing a reputation for skill, polish, and practicality. In 1911 he published Good Things to Eat, a landmark cookbook that is widely recognized as the first cookbook written by an African American chef.

Today, his story stands out not only for the recipes he left behind, but for the path he carved from bondage to professional success. His writing preserves a rich picture of everyday cooking, hospitality, and ambition in America during a time of enormous change.