Looking for a book that takes you to another country, gives you expert advice about iving there, AND gives you superb recipes? I have one for you, from one of my favorite cookbook authors/bloggers, David Lebovitz, that is perfect to give as a hostess present for your Easter dinner, or for Mother's day! It comes out April 8th!
Synopsis:
A collection of stories and 100 sweet and savory French-inspired recipes from popular food blogger David Lebovitz, reflecting the way Parisians eat today and featuring lush photography taken around Paris and in David's Parisian kitchen.
It’s been ten years since David Lebovitz packed up his most treasured cookbooks, a well-worn cast-iron skillet, and his laptop and moved to Paris. In that time, the culinary culture of France has shifted as a new generation of chefs and home cooks—most notably in Paris—incorporates ingredients and techniques from around the world into traditional French dishes.
In My Paris Kitchen, David remasters the classics, introduces lesser-known fare, and presents 100 sweet and savory recipes that reflect the way modern Parisians eat today. You’ll find Soupe à l’oignon, Cassoulet, Coq au vin, and Croque-monsieur, as well as Smoky barbecue-style pork, Lamb shank tagine, Dukkah-roasted cauliflower, Salt cod fritters with tartar sauce, and Wheat berry salad with radicchio, root vegetables, and pomegranate. And of course, there’s dessert: Warm chocolate cake with salted butter caramel sauce, Duck fat cookies, Bay leaf poundcake with orange glaze, French cheesecake...and the list goes on. David also shares stories told with his trademark wit and humor, and lush photography taken on location around Paris and in David’s kitchen reveals the quirks, trials, beauty, and joys of life in the culinary capital of the world.
Review:
Reading David's blog, you may have read some of the tales included in this boo, but it is wonderful to have them all laid out in one place for you! He gives the reader and inside look at Paris, through the eyes of an American (who still loves his pecans, 5 pound bags of flour and a great hamburger), and through a cook who relishes in the fresh items available, where produce and fish are literally from all over the world, and the amazing chocolates, butters, and breads, that can literally take a simple meal to sublime in his hands!
David offers some really superb recipes in this book that are just as amazing as the ones from his blog you might be familiar with. His chocolate cake/caramel sauce is out of this world wonderful, but the section I was glued to was his appetizers! We've been known to make a meal from appetizers, so I shouldn't have been surprised. Here are two of them, that are divine, and both would be great for your Easter table!:
Onion Tart:
and a recipe that would be great for any holiday for gift giving,
or to make up and use as a hostess present,
Salted Olive Crisps:
As you can see, the pictures are equally as divine as the recipes! I love the vignettes and stories as well- you really will get a sense for the real Paris. David does a great job in explaining when to splurge on some items, if cooking back in America- like the use of great anchovies or creme fraiche- to really take your cooking to a higher level. But he explains it in a way that is like he is your best friend talking to you! Like David's other cookbooks, you may find yourself just scrolling back and forth in this book and not really COOKING anything, just admiring the photos and recipes! Eventually you'll tell yourself to get to the kitchen, and when you do, you will me amazed at the recipes all over again!
Be sure to add this wonderful book to your cookbook shelf and pass it on to your favorite 'foodie' as well!
About the Author:
American pastry chef living the sweet life in Paris! Author of several cookbooks, including The Perfect Scoop, the complete guide to making the best ice cream and frozen desserts at home, The Great Book of Chocolate, a guide - with recipes - for everything about everyone's favorite ingredient, and Ready for Dessert, a compilation of baking favorites, from an extra-moist Fresh Ginger Cake, to crunchy Double-Chocolate Biscotti.Check out his blog for more great recipes and tales of life in Paris!
This cookbook makes me think of a sub-titled movie (I cannot for the life of me remember the name of it) about a former head chef of a Paris restaurant who uses her savings to cook one last awesome meal for some people in a village. The food made me want to eat my TV. This looks just as fantastic.
ReplyDeletei remember that movie- but not the name either- and yes, the food is just as spectacular!
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