I am a kitchen enthusiast, but even so, it is not common for me to read a cookbook cover to cover. I was not searching for a recipe; I was not planning a weekly grocery list. Instead, I was simply drawn into what Clotilde Dusoilier has to say about food.

She paints vivid images of culinary creations, using historical, cultural, and familiar dialogues. She is able to share snippets of food history and background, without drowning me in data that is soon to be forgotten, letting me hold onto the information long enough to process its relevance in her introduction to the recipe. She details French cooking in a way that makes me understand why it is both an art form and achievable by the likes of me, that even soufflés that fall can still be tasty. She makes it clear that adventures in a kitchen can and should be a lifetime endeavor. Childhood memories can bring the pursuit of the perfect mashed potatoes into a full life cycle. The personal stories have made me appreciate the time I spend in the kitchen with and for my husband and children, hoping that they are creating memories that will spark them to love the exploration of food even more.

I was a follower of the blog, Chocolate and Zucchini, before picking this cookbook up. I think I took more away from the cookbook than I ever have from the blog. The connections, the groupings, the continuity all make this a strong cookbook, especially for those who are ready to learn not just recipes, or even how to begin to create your own, but how recipes can be connected to your life in both the minutia and the grand. ( )

Not only are these excellent recipes, but it's a beautiful book. Clotilde has run the Chocolate and Zucchini website for some time prior to the book and so it was one of those few books that I actually pre ordered, I was so excited. It didn't dissapoint and I am going to get a copy for my Mum. ( )

I ( )

I have only used two of her recipes so far, but the Chocolate and Zucchini Cake alone is worth the price of the book. And I love cookbooks with lots of anecdotes and commentary. ( )

Dusoulier is inventive, playful, and always willing to take risks in the kitchen. Sometimes these risks pay off, sometimes less so, but it's hard not to be inspired just flipping through her recipes. ( )