Here in our online shop you will find cookbooks and other printed and manuscript materials about food and drink. We have one of the largest selections of rare  cookbooks in the U.S., along with a significant collection of manuscripts, menus, product cookbooks, prints, photographs and other ephemera, all expressions of the culture of food. Our bookshelves hold six centuries of food writing, from comfortable old favorites to haute cuisine, from Southern fried chicken to sous vide. Rabelais also serves those inclined towards thirst, with books on winemaking, cocktail culture, the history of soda fountains, and home brewing. Whether you are a member of the profession and cook for a living, or a serious armchair epicure who reads cookbooks for pleasure, we have information and inspiration for you.

And if you don't see what you are seeking please don’t hesitate to contact us.

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Rabelais will be in Portland this Summer with a pop-up bookshop! For the past year, we’ve been working hard to assemble an excellent selection of books, ephemera, and culinary artifacts; new, used, and rare. We'll be open for just three months, from July 4th weekend through the end of September, in The Black Box at 93 Washington Ave. You’ll be able to visit us Wednesday through Monday (11am to 7pm). Keep an eye on our insta for the latest hours and updates (@rabelaisbooks). See you soon!

RABELAIS' SHOP IN BIDDEFORD MAINE IS NOW CLOSED. We continue selling online, at book fairs around the country, and via direct sales. 

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