Status
Checked out
Due 2024-06-04
Call number
Collection
Publication
Little, Brown and Company (2010), Edition: 1, 336 pages
Description
Biography & Autobiography. Cooking & Food. Travel. Nonfiction. HTML:In Paris for a weekend visit, Elizabeth Bard sat down to lunch with a handsome Frenchman--and never went home again. Was it love at first sight? Or was it the way her knife slid effortlessly through her pavé au poivre, the steak'spink juices puddling into the buttery pepper sauce? LUNCH IN PARIS is a memoir about a young American woman caught up in two passionate love affairs--one with her new beau, Gwendal, the other with French cuisine. Packing her bags for a new life in the world's most romantic city, Elizabeth is plunged into a world of bustling open-air markets, hipster bistros, and size 2 femmes fatales. She learns to gut her first fish (with a little help from Jane Austen), soothe pangs of homesickness (with the rise of a chocolate soufflé) and develops a crush on her local butcher (who bears a striking resemblance to Matt Dillon). Elizabeth finds that the deeper she immerses herself in the world of French cuisine, the more Paris itself begins to translate. French culture, she discovers, is not unlike a well-ripened cheese-there may be a crusty exterior, until you cut through to the melting, piquant heart. Peppered with mouth-watering recipes for summer ratatouille, swordfish tartare and molten chocolate cakes, Lunch in Paris is a story of falling in love, redefining success and discovering what it truly means to be at home. In the delicious tradition of memoirs like A Year in Provence and Under the Tuscan Sun, this book is the perfect treat for anyone who has dreamed that lunch in Paris could change their l… (more)
Media reviews
— 1 more
"Lunch in Paris" winds its way through eight years of eating and Bard's progression from a kitchen novice intimidated by the French language and Paris' hectic markets to an adventurous shopper and experimental cook comfortable mixing French, American and other techniques. It's nearly impossible not
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to fall in love with her along the way. She's halfway home with her luscious description of that first steak. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member frisbeesage
Lunch in Paris is Elizabeth Bard's memoir of falling in love with a Frenchman over a pave au poivre for lunch. As the relationship advances she moves to Paris and encounters all the typical, but somehow never tiresome, dilemmas of an American in Paris. Like many before her she also falls in love
The second half of the book delves deeper into what it really means to live in another country. I really enjoyed Bard's insight into managing relationships with in-laws ( on both sides), forming truly meaningful new friendships, sadly navigating the health care system, and making career decisions. Her careful, detailed look at the differences between the two cultures not only made me appreciate France more, it taught me a little bit more of what it means to be an American.
This was a fun, easy read with more meat on its bones than I expected.
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with the culinary scene, discovering butchers and bakeries, markets and chic, little, sidewalk cafes. The recipes are doable and sound delicious - especially Pork Tenderloin with Four Kinds of Apples and Gwendal's Quick and Dirty Chocolate Souffle.The second half of the book delves deeper into what it really means to live in another country. I really enjoyed Bard's insight into managing relationships with in-laws ( on both sides), forming truly meaningful new friendships, sadly navigating the health care system, and making career decisions. Her careful, detailed look at the differences between the two cultures not only made me appreciate France more, it taught me a little bit more of what it means to be an American.
This was a fun, easy read with more meat on its bones than I expected.
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LibraryThing member dooney
This had been on my list for a long time and I don't know why I never got around to reading it because it was really a lovley and charming story. I like the way the story interleaves the discovery and interweaving of a new love, with the story of moving to a new cutlure and finding one's adult path
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in life. The author skillfully blends the story of feeling isolated and alone in a new environment with the completeness of the romantic relationship, and she also skillfully navigates the ways in which one comes to terms with knowing oneself and sorting out one's fantasies of life in order to get at the kernel of what is true. I suppose there is more I could say, but put simply, it was a delight. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookstar
I would have liked this book so much more if I hadn't already read a similar book about a girl who moves to Pairs after finding love and struggles with all that it means to be an American in a foreign city; a city that has different rules, tougher social standards and is just so different than NYC
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or Boston. Bard does a good job of weaving a story and the recipes at the end of each chapter look interesting, although I'm sure I'll never attempt any of them. Overall a fun read, but it's not creating any new territory, which is a bit of a disappointment. Show Less
LibraryThing member thebooky
A young woman's memoir of falling in love with a Frenchman and ultimately falling in love with France, through tribulations and triumphs, food and family. I wish the characters were better developed. I had a hard time getting into the book because I didn't care much about the characters. I do think
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I will be trying some of the recipes. Show Less
LibraryThing member bugs5
This was an enjoyable book. I love reading about France and this was an interesting look at France from an American's point of view.
LibraryThing member bakersfieldbarbara
Why didn't I write a book about my adventures in Holland? This book is so true to how it is when one follows your heart and moves to Europe. Adapting is difficult, learning a new languge is an adventure, and trying to find ingredients for recipes takes days and weeks to master. I loved this book
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because it is exactly what I went through, only in the Netherlands. Try to learn a new language, a new culture, a new relationship, and then try not to miss the American way of life and food. Page after page, I remembered, and loved each thing I read, including the recipes. Adding the recipes made this book all that more enjoyable for those who would pick this book for reading. The recipes are like the desert at the end of the meal, and at the end of each chapter, the author inserted the recipe for the wonderful foods she was eating and learning about. This isn't just about food, though. This book takes you through relationship joys and tears, always with food added in, because we do have to eat, don't we? Enjoy this book, when you need to feel good about yourself, your life and your relationship. But don't think that you have to move to Europe to live as the book's contents show; you can do this romantic interlude in any city in any state in any country. It is all about risk, good food, openess to risk-taking and a sense of adventure. Read the book, and if you can't leave the country, at least set aside some time to dream about how it would be if you could live your own love story. Show Less
LibraryThing member ccayne
A college intern falls in love with a French man her age and goes to live in Paris. What struck me about this story was the comparisons Bard drew between American way of life and the French. She was very specific - how young Americans define success vs. the French; how they approach illness and
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doctors, shopping, food, ambition and real estate. It was a really enjoyable read. Show Less
LibraryThing member LavendarBlue
Awesome book. Makes me want to live, and eat, in Paris.
Included at the end of every chapter are a few recipes and the few that I've made have turned out very well.
A good book and good food. Double yum!
Included at the end of every chapter are a few recipes and the few that I've made have turned out very well.
A good book and good food. Double yum!
LibraryThing member bibliophile.brouhaha
"When I spotted him at a seminar on a hypertext version of Finnegan's Wake, I knew he had to be European." So begins Elizabeth Bard's attraction to a future lover in her 2010 offering Lunch in Paris: A Love Story, with Recipes. The man in question happens not only to be European, but French to
I am sure many of us have been nervous about meeting a significant other's family, but I could not imagine a trial by edible fire. Love is indeed the stuff of bloody meat and smelly cheese in France, and for an American girl looking for a love to last, she will face many obstacles on her way to sitting at that table. The relationship is chronicled by food, but not in an overbearingly obvious manner; particular dishes make appearances in each chapter the same way a beloved cousin or grown-up sibling pops in to say hello. Like the food itself, these eating rituals (along with family and social etiquette) add texture and culture in a way that fascinates Bard and also makes her wonder what her true role is and where her place in the world lies. Bard struggles with her identity as an individual - the person she always planned on being has not just made a right turn, but at times, the road to that very definite vision has disappeared completely. Mix that in with moderate discussions of U.S. vs French viewpoints on everything from grocery shopping to career planning, it is little wonder that Bard did not flee for the kindness of her homebase of New York City at times.
Particularly poignant to me on a personal level are recollections of her father and commentary on her mother. Like Bard's, my parents are divorced, and very often, I caught myself nodding in agreement when she made certain observations. The good thing about being an adult is that you start seeing your parents as people; the bad thing is that you start seeing them as people. It's a catch-22 that is confounded further by painful memories.
This book is wonderfully written, although things get tied up rather quickly in the end. I would recommend it for any woman looking for a good 'real' love story that's built on equal parts of frustration, adjustment and compassion. Anyone who has every felt out of step, out of time or like a stranger in a place they love will connect with it. Of course, any cook will appreciate it, too - I got my copy from the library, but I plan on purchasing my own copy for the amazing recipes alone.
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boot. What follows is a witty and well-written chronicle of a relationship with that man, his culture, family, and, of course, the food.I am sure many of us have been nervous about meeting a significant other's family, but I could not imagine a trial by edible fire. Love is indeed the stuff of bloody meat and smelly cheese in France, and for an American girl looking for a love to last, she will face many obstacles on her way to sitting at that table. The relationship is chronicled by food, but not in an overbearingly obvious manner; particular dishes make appearances in each chapter the same way a beloved cousin or grown-up sibling pops in to say hello. Like the food itself, these eating rituals (along with family and social etiquette) add texture and culture in a way that fascinates Bard and also makes her wonder what her true role is and where her place in the world lies. Bard struggles with her identity as an individual - the person she always planned on being has not just made a right turn, but at times, the road to that very definite vision has disappeared completely. Mix that in with moderate discussions of U.S. vs French viewpoints on everything from grocery shopping to career planning, it is little wonder that Bard did not flee for the kindness of her homebase of New York City at times.
Particularly poignant to me on a personal level are recollections of her father and commentary on her mother. Like Bard's, my parents are divorced, and very often, I caught myself nodding in agreement when she made certain observations. The good thing about being an adult is that you start seeing your parents as people; the bad thing is that you start seeing them as people. It's a catch-22 that is confounded further by painful memories.
This book is wonderfully written, although things get tied up rather quickly in the end. I would recommend it for any woman looking for a good 'real' love story that's built on equal parts of frustration, adjustment and compassion. Anyone who has every felt out of step, out of time or like a stranger in a place they love will connect with it. Of course, any cook will appreciate it, too - I got my copy from the library, but I plan on purchasing my own copy for the amazing recipes alone.
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LibraryThing member CatheOlson
Memoir about a NY woman who moves to Paris and marries a Frenchman. She doesn't quite know what she wants to do with her life and if she will ever fit in in Paris but she eventually combines her love of food and writing and finds her niche. This was our book club pick and we will get together and
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cook dishes from the book. Most of them involve meat but I found the perfect one for me to make. Lemon sorbet (I will use the recipe from Lick It!) with a shot of vodka poured over it! I might make the stuffed eggplant too. Show Less
LibraryThing member karenlisa
Lunch in Paris By Elizabeth Bard One of the most delicious daydreams come true. Meet a handsome man in Paris, have lunch, fall in love, move there and live happily ever after. This is the life Elizabeth Bard shares with her readers in this honest, funny memoir that warms you like sunshine. Nothing
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could have brightened my weekend more than this light, witty account of living abroad mixed with a passion for cooking and fabulous recipes. Viva la france! Show Less
LibraryThing member voracious
I loved this book, which is a witty narrative about a young American woman who falls in love with a Frenchman over lunch and moves to Paris to be with him. This story is half chick lit love story and half French cookbook, as each chapter ends with several recipes featured in the preceding chapter.
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The author is very sensory and describes the sights, smells and tastes of Paris in great detail throughout the story. She also focuses on the cultural differences between life in Paris and life in the US as she often finds herself in conflict between her American expectations and the French way of life. As the book proceeds, the author finds herself becoming more and more French (though her American spirit simmers under the surface) and she finds herself making fun of the new "ex-pats" who come to France with annoying American behaviors. I enjoyed this story because it was funny, culturally interesting, and also romantic and heartwarming. I thought the author was particularly skillful of starting each chapter like one would the first lines of a novel, with an attention grabbing and witty observation that catches the reader off-guard. Highly recommended for anyone who has romantic notions of Paris or just loves food! I do wish I'd bought the hardcover or paperback version and hadn't bought this on my Kindle because I'd rather have the recipes in a written format. Show Less
LibraryThing member EmilyPSULibrary
Loved it! Very insightful. Wish the recipes included alternatives for ingredients we don't have in the US.
LibraryThing member Penske
If I had a nickel for every book a read about ex-pats living in Paris......okay so I might have a quarter. This book was no better or worse than others. The benefit of this one is you get some recipes including a couple I might actually try!
LibraryThing member KeepingUp
I liked the book - not exactly high literature, but a comfort read for a vacation. I am keen on the recipes. I am not fond of 'fancy' french cooking - the book describes the every day cooking our family craves and can manage (not sure I will get to whole fish - but yogurt cake, cake sale, and some
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simple chocolate recipes are certainly approachable). I will look for more by Elizabeth Bard. Show Less
LibraryThing member peartreebooks
Entertaining; recipes sound wonderful.
LibraryThing member etxgardener
This book is like a big chocolate bon-bon; full of wonderful views of life in Paris with the extra treat of some marvelous recipes thrown in as a lagnaippe
Elizabeth Bard is an aspiring writer/museum curator doing graduate work in London when she meets Gwendal on a trip to Paris. It only takes a
At first things are confusing, but wonderful as she explores the local markets & begins to become part of her surroundings. Yet things are also frustrating & Ms. Bard is clear-eyed about the subtle and not so subtle differences between the way Americans and the French view life, work and the world in general. However, she is determined to stick it out in France and ultimately carves her own third way to fulfillment & happiness.
For anyone who has had the dream of living in France, this is the book for you.
Elizabeth Bard is an aspiring writer/museum curator doing graduate work in London when she meets Gwendal on a trip to Paris. It only takes a
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lunch for her to fall (and fall hard) for him and in a matter of months she has moved into his scruffy tourist flat near the then ungentrified neighborhood by the Canal Saint Martin.At first things are confusing, but wonderful as she explores the local markets & begins to become part of her surroundings. Yet things are also frustrating & Ms. Bard is clear-eyed about the subtle and not so subtle differences between the way Americans and the French view life, work and the world in general. However, she is determined to stick it out in France and ultimately carves her own third way to fulfillment & happiness.
For anyone who has had the dream of living in France, this is the book for you.
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LibraryThing member michigantrumpet
This is a love story. Not so much the romance between American born Elizabeth Bard and yummy Gwendel started over lunch and stretching through marriage and beyond. And really not even between Elizabeth and her newly adopted home, France. Life as an ex-pat, even one as enthusiastic as she, can be
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downright frustrating as she tries to acclimatize to a Parisian mindset with its attendant language and cultural misunderstandings. No, the amor propre here is between Elizabeth and food. She moves incrementally away from her New Yorker penchant for convenience, snacking, and buying and bulk. As the story progresses, we see her gain confidence when shopping the local markets, selecting fresh ingredients and trying on new recipes. Locavores certainly aren't restricted to Paris, but this is where she finds them and falls in love. We get the benefit of some pretty stories, and even better, some interesting recipes. Foodie Lit is a particularly favorite genre of mine. I especially liked this book because of the touches often missing in similar books -- an index of the recipes, and reference to the numbers served. The food here is not an afterthought, but an equal partner and focus with stories of family,young marriage and discovery. Show Less
LibraryThing member sleahey
An upbeat memoir about discovering Paris and romance and French cuisine.
LibraryThing member edeninwonderland
"It had been eight years since that first lunch in Paris, six since I'd dragged my overstuffed suitcases up the spiral stairs to Gwendal's student flat to stay. We still live on the same street, though now there are orante plaster moldings, a bathtub‑ and heat,"
Lunch in Paris is exactly like the
Lunch in Paris is exactly like the
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title suggest a love story with recipes, but what it fails to mention is that Elizabeth Bard is discovering Paris one meal at a time. Alienated by it's culture, Elizabeth is forced to find herself through her savory palette not only for Gwendal but, the cuisine as well. Lunch in Paris is a great read, especially when you have a plane to France to catch (which I unfortunately did not). Show Less
LibraryThing member StefanieGeeks
Wonderful look at the "simple" life in Paris with excellent recipes for small kitchens. The true love story is real and delightful to read.
LibraryThing member booklovercook
Elizabeth falls in love with a French man and moves to Paris where, after some hemming and hawing, she marries him. In many ways, however, this is just the beginning of the story. Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty to love in the recounting of this early phase of Elizabeth’s relationship with
The parts of Elizabeth’s experience that really spoke to me though, are the ones that go beyond the romantic ideal she seemed to be living. These are the stories about her struggles to build a new life – a stranger in a strange land. Her accounts of the loneliness she felt, how difficult it was to make friends, her attempts to understand French women’s nuanced attitudes toward food and body image, her integration into a new family. All told with an honesty that is inviting, an optimism that is inspiring, and a graceful wisdom that instructs.
The method of sharing her experiences in vignettes can sometimes feel a little choppy, simply because they can make the reader feel like there are parts of the story that are missing and you don’t want to miss one second of this engaging tale. The overall structure of the book is a success though – it is narrative and reads like a novel, but includes recipes at the end of each chapter that pair perfectly with the theme of what preceded.
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her eventual husband, Gwendal, including some very seductive recipes that I wanted to rush to my kitchen to make immediately.The parts of Elizabeth’s experience that really spoke to me though, are the ones that go beyond the romantic ideal she seemed to be living. These are the stories about her struggles to build a new life – a stranger in a strange land. Her accounts of the loneliness she felt, how difficult it was to make friends, her attempts to understand French women’s nuanced attitudes toward food and body image, her integration into a new family. All told with an honesty that is inviting, an optimism that is inspiring, and a graceful wisdom that instructs.
The method of sharing her experiences in vignettes can sometimes feel a little choppy, simply because they can make the reader feel like there are parts of the story that are missing and you don’t want to miss one second of this engaging tale. The overall structure of the book is a success though – it is narrative and reads like a novel, but includes recipes at the end of each chapter that pair perfectly with the theme of what preceded.
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LibraryThing member lkarr
Interesting take on Parisians which corroborates other books I have read by Americans in Paris. Some interesting recipes as well.
LibraryThing member Alphawoman
Enjoyed the flow of recipes and story line. But...it is not julia child in Paris!
LibraryThing member BookConcierge
Subtitle: A Love Story, With Recipes
When Bard was a graduate student in England (art history), she took a weekend trip to Paris, where she met and had lunch with a Frenchman. And the rest, as they say, is history.
This is a charming memoir where Bard explores the many differences between French and
On the whole, an enjoyable, fast read.
When Bard was a graduate student in England (art history), she took a weekend trip to Paris, where she met and had lunch with a Frenchman. And the rest, as they say, is history.
This is a charming memoir where Bard explores the many differences between French and
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American culture. I did get a little tired of her whining about not knowing where she was going (career wise), but I loved her descriptions of the many meals she enjoyed – from simple brioche and coffee for breakfast to elaborate lamb dishes and the mouth-watering chocolate soufflé. As I read the recipes I found myself inspired, and thinking “I could make this.” (But I know I won’t.)On the whole, an enjoyable, fast read.
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Original language
English
Physical description
336 p.; 8.5 inches
ISBN
031604279X / 9780316042796