The Paris Cookbook - Softcover

Patricia Wells

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1856264777 ISBN 13: 9781856264778

Publisher: Kyle Cathie, 2003

Synopsis

Often referred to as 'the city of moveable feasts' Paris offers so much for the discerning and adventurous diner. With a cosmopolitan mix of restaurants the city boasts a wealth of knowledge and expertise on cooking. Aiming to bring this delightful array of tastes into the modern kitchen, the author, equipped with twenty years of living in the city, blends together her own recipes with tips from the top restaurateurs, resulting in a truly wonderful mix of recipes guaranteed to inspire the reader to bring the lively world of this most heavenly of cities into the domestic kitchen. How about a Provencal onion tart with a main course of scallops on a bed of leeks finished off with a luscious Chocolat Chaud? Delicious! An appreciation of Parisian history can only add to an enjoyment of the city's food so wherever pertinent, recipes, colour photography and essays are complemented by snippets of history and nostalgic black-and-white photographs which invite the reader to understand truly how Paris and its people have developed into the one of the greatest food capitals of the world.

About this title

Review

American-born Paris dweller Patricia Wells has turned her love of French food into a remarkable series of culinary works. The Paris Cookbook reflects that affection and her familiarity with the Paris food scene, offering 150 of its best recipes. From famed chef Joël Robuchon's sublime Creamy White Bean Soup to a hearty flank steak dish courtesy of Wells's butcher; from bistro Chez Benoit's Asparagus and Green Bean Salad to confectioner La Maison du Chocolate's Bittersweet Chocolate Mousse, the book abounds in wonderful food. Wells's achievement, here as elsewhere, is to make her recipes genuinely accessible to the average cook; well-chosen and lucidly written, they invite even the hesitant into the kitchen with the promise of great eating.

Following the courses of a typical Parisian meal, from appetizers through desserts, the book presents three-star dishes like Arpège Eggs with Maple Syrup, as well as more humble fare, including an exemplary Lemon Chicken and socca, the delicious Provençale pancakes. A section on pasta, rice, beans, and grains offers such standouts as Flora's Polenta Fries. Desserts also receive their due with delights like Fresh Fig and Almond Gratin. Illustrated with photos that evoke Parisian life at the market and at the table, and containing a wealth of tips and helpful information, wine recommendations, plus the addresses of the dining spots mentioned, the book is a worthy addition to Wells's dependable store of cooking guides. --Arthur Boehm

About the Author

Patricia Wells, a former reporter for The New York Times, is currently a critic for the International Herald Tribune and was the first female and foreign restaurant critic for French weekly, L'Express. This is her eighth book, having previously published, among others, The Food lover's Guide to Paris, Bistro Cooking, The Food Lover's Guide to France and Patricia Wells at home in Provence.

Edition details

• Publisher: Kyle Cathie
• Publication date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1856264777
• ISBN 13: 9781856264778
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 288