Mastering the Art of French Eating: Lessons in Food and Love from a Year in Paris

This book was a double delight for me to read, and took me a while to finish. Not because it was slow-moving or plodding, but because at the end of each chapter there are recipes; recipes I just had to try out, ingredients permitting.

This is a novel, a travel book and a foodies paradise all rolled into the memoirs of the Author, and anyone who delights in reading any of these genres, either as a whole or separately will revel in this book. The Author describes her love of Paris and how it came about, and the joy she felt at knowing they would actually be able to live there for a predetermined amount of time. I fully related with her life of having to pack up and move every three years and, her excitement at going to a place that had show more been on her ‘wish-list’ for such a long time really spoke to me, as I am sure it will to every reader who lives a nomadic work connected lifestyle.

Like the Author, I am a Gallophile and love Paris. This made it especially easy for me to fall into the book, and experience with her the sights and sounds of the city; remembering that same awkwardness of speaking French to a native. Some of the areas she travels to outside of the city, I had not visited but through the skilful writing style of the Author I was there with her speeding through the countryside with my large baguette and wine bottle snugly secure in the back seat. Into her memoir, the Author deftly weaves pertinent histories of the regions we travel with her to, and this just adds more flavour to those wonderful recipes. This is a book that is both mentally and visually pleasing, not because it is jammed packed with travel and food photographs, but because the Author has described every detail of the year of the title with such depth, humour and courtesy, the reader has a clear image of what is taking place on the pages before them.

The recipes are delicious, and so easy to follow. However, some of them require ingredients that may be difficult for the reader to come by depending on their location; do not be discouraged by this as there are plenty more that can be made with ingredients on hand and have you longing to travel to their region of origin.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to travel, eat regional foods or just wants a good read with a little extra included.

Originally reviewed on: http://catesbooknuthut.wordpress.com/2013/09/03/review-mastering-the-art-of-fren...




This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. show less

Even though this wasn’t highly rated, I had read and really enjoyed Ann Mah’s 2022 novel that also took place in Paris (“Jacqueline in Paris”) so was looking forward to this memoir about Ann’s year of living in Paris, published in 2013.

I have to admit I was disappointed. The title was clever, a riff on Julia Child’s famous cookbook “Mastering the Art of French Cooking,” and the concept promised to be engaging. Like Julia Child, Ann’s husband was a diplomat and Ann was left alone for much of her year in France. As a foodie and Francophile, she used the time to explore the true stories behind the country’s signature regional dishes. Each of the ten chapters focuses on one traditional dish and includes Ann’s show more adventures in learning the dishes’ origins as well as how each is made. Recipes are included.

Yes, this is a book about living, working, shopping, cooking, and eating in Paris. But I didn’t like the way Ann padded each chapter with boring and dry statistics about ingredients, the region, the history of the dish, etc. She says she is telling the “link between history and place, culture and cuisine.” But it reads as if there are two books that don’t blend well – the nonfiction research and the personal memoir. And it was the memoir that was the part I wanted to read. She describes how, after her husband is suddenly assigned to a diplomatic placement in Iraq while she is left in Paris, she feels disconnected from Paris “an observer of the city rather than a participant.” This book becomes a way for her to practice her French, force herself out of a self-imposed isolation, and give her career a boost in a positive direction.

I know Ann Mah can write well because of the “Jacqueline” novel, but in this book she is timid, a little whiney, and spends too much time writing about feeling sorry for herself.

Two positive things: in addition to the recipes, the book has an index. But I can’t give this more than two stars – it was just OK. show less

What a wonderful book! Ann Mah takes us on a veritable tour of France by the signature food item of each area in France. In each chapter she describes the food, the origins of the food and the modern life of the food item. Interspersed between food passages is the story of her life for one year in France while her diplomat husband was away in Baghdad, leaving her to fend for herself and develop a routine.
I have never been interested in traveling to France but after reading this book and a couple of other books with a French theme, I have changed my mind. When I read the descriptions of the people and the food I felt the pride and the joy that the various regions have in their particular contribution to the French food mystique. It made show more me want to go and see everything for myself. I’ll admit some of the food would never pass my lips but it would still be interesting to see the process. After each region, the recipe for the dish is included so we can attempt to re-create the magic.
I’m not a gourmet chef but I can appreciate the unique qualities of each dish as described by Ms. Mah. I would imagine an experienced student of French cooking will enjoy the history and rituals of the food as well as the opportunity to cook a new version of a regional dish.
I also enjoyed the personal stories about her family and her previous moves with her diplomat husband, Calvin. Their mutual love of all things French added to the enjoyment of the book for me. I would love to read more about their travels. show less

This book was a double delight for me to read, and took me a while to finish. Not because it was slow-moving or plodding, but because at the end of each chapter there are recipes; recipes I just had to try out, ingredients permitting.

This is a novel, a travel book and a foodies paradise all rolled into the memoirs of the Author, and anyone who delights in reading any of these genres, either as a whole or separately will revel in this book. The Author describes her love of Paris and how it came about, and the joy she felt at knowing they would actually be able to live there for a predetermined amount of time. I fully related with her life of having to pack up and move every three years and, her excitement at going to a place that had show more been on her ‘wish-list’ for such a long time really spoke to me, as I am sure it will to every reader who lives a nomadic work connected lifestyle.

Like the Author, I am a Gallophile and love Paris. This made it especially easy for me to fall into the book, and experience with her the sights and sounds of the city; remembering that same awkwardness of speaking French to a native. Some of the areas she travels to outside of the city, I had not visited but through the skilful writing style of the Author I was there with her speeding through the countryside with my large baguette and wine bottle snugly secure in the back seat. Into her memoir, the Author deftly weaves pertinent histories of the regions we travel with her to, and this just adds more flavour to those wonderful recipes. This is a book that is both mentally and visually pleasing, not because it is jammed packed with travel and food photographs, but because the Author has described every detail of the year of the title with such depth, humour and courtesy, the reader has a clear image of what is taking place on the pages before them.

The recipes are delicious, and so easy to follow. However, some of them require ingredients that may be difficult for the reader to come by depending on their location; do not be discouraged by this as there are plenty more that can be made with ingredients on hand and have you longing to travel to their region of origin.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to travel, eat regional foods or just wants a good read with a little extra included.

Originally reviewed on: http://catesbooknuthut.wordpress.com/2013/09/03/review-mastering-the-art-of-fren...




This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. show less

This was a delightful armchair romp through France by way of food. A memoir of one year spent discovering the history of some of France’s signature dishes. Any Francophile will be satisfied with this combination travelogue, food history and personal story.

Enjoyable read

Quite a good book. I’ll admit I skimmed at times, but I enjoyed reading Mah’s story about her time in Paris. I especially enjoyed the Julia Child tie-ins, apartment hunting, and American Thanksgiving. I can’t say I’ll try many of the recipes, but that’s just me. Nice that she included so many, and who knows, maybe one day I will!

This was an excellent memoir of one woman's time in France. Yes, there a lot of books in this genre now, but the author Ann Mah does an wonderful job of taking her readers along on a delicious food journey through France. Each chapter covers a certain region and then focuses on the food it is know for. Interspersed through each chapter are also some personal stories and insights into Ann's life while she lived in France as a diplomat's wife.
I've never been to France or even made or eaten many French meals, but the book completely captivated me and entertained me throughout. Recommended to everyone.
I received a complimentary copy through the Goodreads giveaway program.