The author photo in the back reveals the Frenchest-Chefiest-possible-looking man. But, Tom Higgins is British and had no chef or restaurant experience prior to opening his own cafe in Lyon in 1986. Luckily, he was ready to work all hours of the day and night, had some great recipes, and the natives, surprising themselves considerably, liked British food enough to return again and again.
This enjoyable memoir is the perfect book to give anyone who dreams of opening their own restaurant in a foreign land. It's humorous, honest, and sweet.
Showing posts with label For Foodies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label For Foodies. Show all posts
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Book Review: A Pig in Provence by Georgeanne Brennan
When I'd heard famous, California-born, cookbook author Georgeanne Brennan had written an autobiography of her life in Provence, I was expecting, well, an autobiography; but, that's not what this is. Instead, it's a collection of eight autobiographical essays, each centered around a particular Provencal food item. For example, one is about aoli, another on wild mushrooms, and a third about freshly butchered pork.
I'm not a true foodie, but most of the details she mentioned were things I already knew about from other books or personal experience. So, there's nothing unique in here, although the eight featured recipes look fairly useful. Frustratingly, Georgeanne includes just enough biographical details to get your taste whetted... and then goes back to food again. You can tell she's got a great memoir inside of her, but it's not this book.
Perhaps the most illuminating information in the book are little side comments strewn throughout about how much Provence has changed since Georgeanne first moved there in 1970, and indeed how lucky she was in 1970 to witness the very last of the oldtime customs. Tellingly, her son was the first child born in the village after an entire decade. Her local friends, at that time, were nearly all old age pensioners. Today the people inhabiting those same homes are mostly well-off vacationers from places like Germany, the UK and Paris.
Georgeanne has asked many of her oldest French friends if they miss the old days. No, they all say. It was too much hard work and isolation. But I can tell she's nostalgic for those times, if only because the food, then all homegrown and homemade, was slightly better.
I'm not a true foodie, but most of the details she mentioned were things I already knew about from other books or personal experience. So, there's nothing unique in here, although the eight featured recipes look fairly useful. Frustratingly, Georgeanne includes just enough biographical details to get your taste whetted... and then goes back to food again. You can tell she's got a great memoir inside of her, but it's not this book.
Perhaps the most illuminating information in the book are little side comments strewn throughout about how much Provence has changed since Georgeanne first moved there in 1970, and indeed how lucky she was in 1970 to witness the very last of the oldtime customs. Tellingly, her son was the first child born in the village after an entire decade. Her local friends, at that time, were nearly all old age pensioners. Today the people inhabiting those same homes are mostly well-off vacationers from places like Germany, the UK and Paris.
Georgeanne has asked many of her oldest French friends if they miss the old days. No, they all say. It was too much hard work and isolation. But I can tell she's nostalgic for those times, if only because the food, then all homegrown and homemade, was slightly better.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Book Review: Ciao, America! by Beppe Severgnini
"The American news we are bombarded with in Europe is like having a searchlight shine directly into your eyes," notes Beppe in his introduction. "Ordinary America is one of the world's best kept secrets." You know, I'm so glad someone besides me said that. America is as overexposed in the world's media as Paris Hilton, which leads many outside the US to assume, reasonably, that they know all about it. Then they come here and those preconceptions get blown to smithereens.
You can tell that Beppe, an Italian journalist, had a marvelous time writing this book about the year in the early 1990s he and his family lived in the Georgetown area of Washington DC. He details the strange customs of the natives (annoyingly friendly waiters, freakishly quick and businesslike phone calls, continual unalloyed optimism, no need to bribe clerks, boasting being valued over modesty, unusual holiday rituals, the overwhelming variety of offerings on supermarket shelves, etc.) and is terrifically proud of winning signs of acceptance from the neighbors after just six months. (Relentless front yard gardening was key.)
And, of course, he gives an Italian's take on American food. Pancake houses, burger joints, chewing gum, and mountains of ice in drinks.
You'll like this book if you:
- Are an American living in Europe and would like to imagine the reverse sometimes.
- Are an American who always wondered what our country looks like through foreigner's eyes.
You can tell that Beppe, an Italian journalist, had a marvelous time writing this book about the year in the early 1990s he and his family lived in the Georgetown area of Washington DC. He details the strange customs of the natives (annoyingly friendly waiters, freakishly quick and businesslike phone calls, continual unalloyed optimism, no need to bribe clerks, boasting being valued over modesty, unusual holiday rituals, the overwhelming variety of offerings on supermarket shelves, etc.) and is terrifically proud of winning signs of acceptance from the neighbors after just six months. (Relentless front yard gardening was key.)
And, of course, he gives an Italian's take on American food. Pancake houses, burger joints, chewing gum, and mountains of ice in drinks.
You'll like this book if you:
- Are an American living in Europe and would like to imagine the reverse sometimes.
- Are an American who always wondered what our country looks like through foreigner's eyes.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Book Review: The Sharper Your Knife, The Less You Cry by Kathleen Flinn
When Kathleen Flinn got laid off from her corporate job, the 36-year old took it as a sign from the fates that perhaps she was meant to live her dream life after all. So, she cashed in her savings and left for Paris to study for an entire year at Julia Child's alma mater, Le Cordon Bleu.
This memoir is the world's only behind-the-scenes portrayal of Le Cordon Bleu in the 21st century. Personally I love stuff like this, when you get to see what something terribly glamorous is truly like in real life. Kathleen is a great guide, sharing both the magic and the stresses of studying with some of the toughest teachers in the world. Laughter, new love, tears, and very sharp knives -- it's all in there along with her favorite recipes.
Also includes, to me amusing, sections on how hard it is to find a half-decent rental apartment in Paris for a remotely reasonable price.
Worth a read if you:
- Are a foodie and/or a cook
- Have dreamed of chucking it all in and moving to Paris
- Enjoy true-life love stories and romantic comedies
This memoir is the world's only behind-the-scenes portrayal of Le Cordon Bleu in the 21st century. Personally I love stuff like this, when you get to see what something terribly glamorous is truly like in real life. Kathleen is a great guide, sharing both the magic and the stresses of studying with some of the toughest teachers in the world. Laughter, new love, tears, and very sharp knives -- it's all in there along with her favorite recipes.
Also includes, to me amusing, sections on how hard it is to find a half-decent rental apartment in Paris for a remotely reasonable price.
Worth a read if you:
- Are a foodie and/or a cook
- Have dreamed of chucking it all in and moving to Paris
- Enjoy true-life love stories and romantic comedies
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Book Review: An Embarrassment of Mangoes by Ann Vanderhoof
Doesn't the name alone just grab you? This book is a detailed account of the two years a 40-something Canadian couple spent in the mid-90s sailing their 42-foot boat around the Caribbeans.
Don't worry if you're not a sailor -- neither was Ann when she started out. As she learns about the sailing life, so does the reader. I like this because it makes it easier for me to imagine myself in her shoes .. or rather tanned bare feet. And just when the mangoes, beaches, rum, warm sun, and Carnivals begin to make you feel a bit jealous, Ann evens things out by detailing the nitty gritty behind the glamour of sailing life, including no storage, lack of water, extra household cleaning chores, and horribly tiny, ship-to-shore dingies.
Ann's a total foodie, buying fresh local provisions at the native markets, visiting local rum factories, befriending local fisherman for the fresh catch and constantly concocting new recipes. Definitely read this book with a snack at your side -- you'll get hungry. Luckily, Ann includes about a dozen of her best Caribbean recipes including one for a genuine rum punch.
As she notes, many couples in the 'cruising culture' spend their time socializing with other North American cruisers and just see the islands as ports for restocking gas and groceries. Ann and her husband were the exception to that rule. They actively sought out local culture and friendships on several of the islands, especially Grenada. So, although this book is more about the sailing life than it is about living on a particular island, you definitely do get some insights into native Caribbean culture.
You'll like this book if:
-You've dreamed of sailing away....
- You'd love to attend native Carnival celebrations on a Caribbean island and dance (and drink) all night and all day.
- You're planning a boat trip down the Intracoastal Highway from the Chesapeake to Miami and you want to know what it's like beforehand.
- You're a foodie.
Don't worry if you're not a sailor -- neither was Ann when she started out. As she learns about the sailing life, so does the reader. I like this because it makes it easier for me to imagine myself in her shoes .. or rather tanned bare feet. And just when the mangoes, beaches, rum, warm sun, and Carnivals begin to make you feel a bit jealous, Ann evens things out by detailing the nitty gritty behind the glamour of sailing life, including no storage, lack of water, extra household cleaning chores, and horribly tiny, ship-to-shore dingies.
Ann's a total foodie, buying fresh local provisions at the native markets, visiting local rum factories, befriending local fisherman for the fresh catch and constantly concocting new recipes. Definitely read this book with a snack at your side -- you'll get hungry. Luckily, Ann includes about a dozen of her best Caribbean recipes including one for a genuine rum punch.
As she notes, many couples in the 'cruising culture' spend their time socializing with other North American cruisers and just see the islands as ports for restocking gas and groceries. Ann and her husband were the exception to that rule. They actively sought out local culture and friendships on several of the islands, especially Grenada. So, although this book is more about the sailing life than it is about living on a particular island, you definitely do get some insights into native Caribbean culture.
You'll like this book if:
-You've dreamed of sailing away....
- You'd love to attend native Carnival celebrations on a Caribbean island and dance (and drink) all night and all day.
- You're planning a boat trip down the Intracoastal Highway from the Chesapeake to Miami and you want to know what it's like beforehand.
- You're a foodie.
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