Tuesday, December 10, 2013

MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH EATING : LESSONS IN FOOD AND LOVE FROM A YEAR IN PARIS
by Ann Mah

They had always talked about going to Paris. It was something that was constantly on their minds. But due to their situation of moving every three years to another city, they really didn't think it could happen. Calvin was a diplomat, so though he might be able to pick a particular city to work in, it might not actually happen.
In 2007, their dream became a reality: Calvin is given an assignment in Paris. Sheer joy for he and his wife, Ann. Unfortunately, their bliss did not linger. Within no time (barely unpacked), Calvin was assigned to a different post: Baghdad. It would be for one year. Ann would be on her own not allowed to be with Calvin in Iraq. She had to make the best of it.
Being a foodie and eating just about anything, anywhere, Ann set out to discover ten different regions of France with their signature dishes. She met chefs, home cooks, farmers, restaurateurs, and sampled all the traditional cuisines. What a way to savor life.
Ann Mah certainly knows how to describe French cuisine that makes your mouth constantly water. Her prose is delightful. It's obvious that she adores France and who wouldn't with such a panoply of spectacular food. When she takes her trips all over the country, she learns the original stories behind each specific dish and and throws in some French history of the area, which makes it all the more interesting.
If you're tempted to cook any of these dishes, go right ahead. At the end of every chapter, there is a recipe. You might have trouble with some of the ingredients being that they're not sold in the United States. Ann does give websites and/or alternatives for procuring these items.
So, whether you consider yourself a Francophile, or just love reading about French cuisines, you will want to get this book. 
Recommended.