Meet Becky Diamond

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Photo by Heather Raub of FrontRoom Images

​Becky Libourel Diamond has had a varied career combining writing and research. Her second book, The Thousand Dollar Dinner, tells the unique story of a nineteenth century “Top Chef”-style competition between Philadelphia restauranteur James Parkinson and the Delmonico family of New York. The result was a luxurious seventeen course feast that helped launch fine restaurant dining in America as we know it today. She is also the author of Mrs. Goodfellow: The Story of America’s Cooking School, a successful nineteenth century pasty chef who also ran an innovative cooking school for young woman - a Philadelphia first.

Her next book is The Gilded Age Cookbook, to be published by Globe Pequot in August 2023. 

Latest News 

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Mrs. Goodfellow is now available in paperback! As seen on PBS's A Taste of History Show and PA Books on PCN. Available on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble. 

"Becky Diamond is the expert on this fascinating historical figure."
~ Chef Walter Staib, A Taste of History, PBS


"A fascinating sociocultural and commercial history."
~ Publishers Weekly
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"[Diamond's book] fills a large gap in American culinary history."
~ Library Journal
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​"A delicious exploration of the life and legacy of one of America's most influential cooks."
~ Pennsylvania Heritage magazine

"[The] narrative, day-in-the-life style [is] a splendid and welcomed addition to the meaty research interspersed."
~ Bryan Kozlowski, author of The Jane Austen Diet

Contact

If you'd like to book Becky for a speaking engagement, food demonstration, or book club discussion, you can reach her via email:

beckyldiamond@yahoo.com