Status
Available
Collection
Publication
TIME WARNER (2001), Edition: Export Ed, 320 pages
Description
A delightful, delicious, and best-selling account of the gustatory pleasures to be found throughout France, from the beloved author of A Year in Provence. The French celebrate food and drink more than any other people, and Peter Mayle shows us just how contagious their enthusiasm can be. We visit the Foire aux Escargots. We attend a truly French marathon, where the beverage of choice is Château Lafite-Rothschild rather than Gatorade. We search out the most pungent cheese in France, and eavesdrop on a heated debate on the perfect way to prepare an omelet. We even attend a Catholic mass in the village of Richerenches, a sacred event at which thanks are given for the aromatic, mysterious, and breathtakingly expensive black truffle. With Mayle as our charming guide, we come away satisfied (if a little hungry), and with a sudden desire to book a flight to France at once.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member weebaby
This book actually makes me consider trying French food. Almost. I still would like to travel there.
LibraryThing member sturlington
Mayle takes us on a gastronomic tour of France in this series of vignettes, as he visits some of that country’s more unusual food festivals, ranging from celebrations of delicacies like frogs’ legs and truffles to the search for the perfect chicken. One of the weirder weekends is a marathon in
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which participants run in costume, stopping frequently along the way for wine breaks. In his amusing and very readable prose, Mayle reveals his affection for all things French and makes a life spent reveling in the pleasures of food and wine seem very attractive indeed. Show Less
LibraryThing member Harrod
Delightful and humorous. Mayle brings people and places alive.
LibraryThing member wareagle78
This is a wonderful series of stories by a British food critic who travels through France focusing on various food festivals. It's almost like being there! Well, without the pungent cheesee and quite as much wine.
LibraryThing member bnbookgirl
This is an interesting and fun journey through the food, wine, and eclectic folks of France. Descriptions are so grand at times the food and wine will seem like it is in front of you. From frog legs to Bordeaux, from escargot to cheese, this book covers the delightful pleasures to be found
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throughout France. Of course, there are the quirky characters thrown in for a true taste of the villages Mayle visits. Show Less
LibraryThing member lostinavalonOR
Whenever I see the name, Peter Mayle, I immediately think, "indigestion." This man has a real thing about the word, "gastronomic", and it's several variations. It's been kind of a thing with me now to count how many times he uses it in each book. French Lessons far surpasses any other Mayle I've
Other than that, this was another great memoir of France put out by an intelligent and entertaining author. I always find myself learning so much and desiring to make the pilgrimage to the land of my ancestors one day.
I did find the Truffle Mass pretty odd. Besides the obvious, who would want a truffle that has been passed around and sniffed? Also, the chickens in funeral garb was kind of creepy. Still, I'm glad I had a chance to read this one and hope the next reader will enjoy it as well!
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read with a whopping 17 uses of the term! In one case toward the end, he even alludes to it being overused. All I can think of is a great big fat farting man. Ugh.Other than that, this was another great memoir of France put out by an intelligent and entertaining author. I always find myself learning so much and desiring to make the pilgrimage to the land of my ancestors one day.
I did find the Truffle Mass pretty odd. Besides the obvious, who would want a truffle that has been passed around and sniffed? Also, the chickens in funeral garb was kind of creepy. Still, I'm glad I had a chance to read this one and hope the next reader will enjoy it as well!
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LibraryThing member BookConcierge
This book is subtitled: Adventures with Knife, Fork, and Corkscrew, and is another entertaining memoir of life in France by the former British advertising executive who now makes Provence his home. I’ve been a fan of Mayle’s since I read his first book, A Year in Provence. His books should come
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with warning labels – I swear I gain 5-10 pounds every time I read one. This particular volume has us following Mayle as he partakes of various food festivals around France – from frog legs to blood sausage and everything in between. Additionally we enjoy the scenery (i.e. nubile young things with teensy-weensy bikinis) and get an education on the fames Michelin guide and rating system. Show Less
LibraryThing member LibraryCin
2.5 stars
The author writes about food and wine in France.
I think I received this via a “white elephant swap” a while back. I’m not a foodie, and I’m sure someone who appreciates food, particularly French food, would get much more out of this. I found most of the food he discussed quite
The author writes about food and wine in France.
I think I received this via a “white elephant swap” a while back. I’m not a foodie, and I’m sure someone who appreciates food, particularly French food, would get much more out of this. I found most of the food he discussed quite
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disgusting. I also don’t drink alcohol, including wine, though I think there was only one chapter on wine (maybe two?). At the same time, he actually is an engaging writer. And there were a couple chapters near the end that didn’t talk about food that I found more interesting – one was about food critics and travel guide ratings, and one was an entertaining chapter as the author and his wife stayed at a spa for a few days. Show Less
LibraryThing member MrsLee
An exploration of France's celebration and veneration of food items many think odd; such as snails, frog's legs and blood sausages. Mayle spends a year traveling to the various celebrations throughout France which feature one special ingredient. Rather than any grand analysis, this seems a really
I very much enjoyed this, probably as close as I will ever get to enjoying road trips in France.
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good excuse to travel and eat delicious things. His humor is fun, poking fun at himself and others and humanity at large, but not darkened by heavy sarcasm or ridicule. I very much enjoyed this, probably as close as I will ever get to enjoying road trips in France.
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LibraryThing member detailmuse
This collection of light, sometimes humorous, essays (by an English expat in France) explores 13 French “fairs and festivals connected with food and drink, the more unusual the better.”
There are truffles; frogs’ legs; snails; wines; blood sausages; cheeses (I want to try a Livarot -- whose
These are recurring festivals and I’m sure that, today, each one has a lavish website. But it was shocking (with the book’s copyright of 2001) to peruse the contact info in an appendix and be reminded how recently there has been anything other than a snail-mail address or occasional fax#.
There are truffles; frogs’ legs; snails; wines; blood sausages; cheeses (I want to try a Livarot -- whose
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pungency on the page scares me, but whose “dense, chewy, elastic, creamy” textures entice me); and Bresse chickens (I’d like to try). There are also pieces about the Michelin guide; a spa stay; bikini-dining; and a costume-dress 42-km marathon run through Bordeaux vineyards. I enjoyed this but not to the degree of A Year in Provence, which was transporting about food and France and remains one of my all-time favorites.These are recurring festivals and I’m sure that, today, each one has a lavish website. But it was shocking (with the book’s copyright of 2001) to peruse the contact info in an appendix and be reminded how recently there has been anything other than a snail-mail address or occasional fax#.
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Awards
Booklist Editor's Choice: Adult Books (Biography — 2001)
Language
Original publication date
2002
ISBN
0316857785 / 9780316857789