Barefoot in Paris: Easy French Food You Can Make at Home [Hardcover]

Ina Garten (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 26, 2004

Hearty boeuf Bourguignon served in deep bowls over a garlic-rubbed slice of baguette toast; decadently rich croque monsieur, eggy and oozing with cheese; gossamer crème brulee, its sweetness offset by a brittle burnt-sugar topping. Whether shared in a cozy French bistro or in your own home, the romance and enduring appeal of French country cooking is irrefutable. Here is the book that helps you bring that spirit, those evocative dishes, into your own home.

What Ina Garten is known for—on her Food Network show and in her three previous bestselling books—is adding a special twist to familiar dishes, while also streamlining the recipes so you spend less time in the kitchen but still emerge with perfection. And that’s exactly what she offers in Barefoot in Paris. Ina’s kir royale includes the unique addition of raspberry liqueur—a refreshing alternative to the traditional crème de cassis. Her vichyssoise is brightened with the addition of zucchini, and her chocolate mousse is deeply flavored with the essence of orange. All of these dishes are true to their Parisian roots, but all offer something special—and are thoroughly delicious, completely accessible, and the perfect fare for friends and family.

Barefoot in Paris is suffused with Ina’s love of the city, of the bustling outdoor markets and alluring little shops, of the bakeries and fromageries and charcuteries—of the wonderful celebration of food that you find on every street corner, in every neighborhood. So take a trip to Paris with the perfect guide—the Barefoot Contessa herself—in her most personal book yet.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Ina Garten's much loved cookbooks, The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, Barefoot Contessa Parties!, and Barefoot Contessa Family Style, offer relaxed yet stylish dishes that don't tax the cook. Her food works wonderfully for entertaining but shouldn't be limited to such times. Barefoot in Paris finds Garten (almost inevitably) in France, "translating" native dishes for the American home cook. The result is rewarding, and should get those reluctant to "cook French" to do just that. Covered are classics like Celery Root Rémoulade, Boeuf Bourguignon, and Chicken with Forty Cloves of Garlic, but also "newer" dishes like Zucchini Vichyssoise and Avocado and Grapefruit Salad. If Garten ranges wide from typical Parisian fare--in, for example, recipes like Rosemary Cashews, Tomato Rice Pilaf, and a distinctly American Brownie Tart--these nonetheless embody the French approach. Her sweets, including the likes of Peaches in Sauternes, Plum Cake "Tatin," and an exemplary Crème Brûlée, are particularly tempting. Included also are asides like "About French Table Settings," and "If You're Going," a resource guide, that, practicality apart, give readers a sense of French culinary life. With color photos, this is winning addition to the Barefoot collection. --Arthur Boehm

From the Inside Flap

Hearty boeuf Bourguignon served in deep bowls over a garlic-rubbed slice of baguette toast; decadently rich croque monsieur, eggy and oozing with cheese; gossamer crème brulee, its sweetness offset by a brittle burnt-sugar topping. Whether shared in a cozy French bistro or in your own home, the romance and enduring appeal of French country cooking is irrefutable. Here is the book that helps you bring that spirit, those evocative dishes, into your own home.

What Ina Garten is known for—on her Food Network show and in her three previous bestselling books—is adding a special twist to familiar dishes, while also streamlining the recipes so you spend less time in the kitchen but still emerge with perfection. And that’s exactly what she offers in Barefoot in Paris. Ina’s kir royale includes the unique addition of raspberry liqueur—a refreshing alternative to the traditional crème de cassis. Her vichyssoise is brightened with the addition of zucchini, and her chocolate mousse is deeply flavored with the essence of orange. All of these dishes are true to their Parisian roots, but all offer something special—and are thoroughly delicious, completely accessible, and the perfect fare for friends and family.

Barefoot in Paris is suffused with Ina’s love of the city, of the bustling outdoor markets and alluring little shops, of the bakeries and fromageries and charcuteries—of the wonderful celebration of food that you find on every street corner, in every neighborhood. So take a trip to Paris with the perfect guide—the Barefoot Contessa herself—in her most personal book yet.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Clarkson Potter; First Edition edition (October 26, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400049350
• ISBN-13: 978-1400049356
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 0.8 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (121 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,625 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #16 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Regional & International > European > French
  • #60 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Quick & Easy

More About the Author

In 1978, Ina Garten left her job as a budget analyst in the White House to pursue her dream of operating a specialty food store in the Hamptons. She is a frequent contributor to major national magazines and writes a recurring column in O Magazine. Her new television series on entertaining can be seen on Food Network. Ina lives in East Hampton, New York, and Southport, Connecticut, with her husband, Jeffrey.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

140 of 143 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a Francophile opinion............, June 22, 2007

By 

Toni "the bookworm" (Chicago, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Barefoot in Paris: Easy French Food You Can Make at Home (Hardcover)

There is not much that I can add to the reviews already written, but as an admitted Francophile, I wanted to put my 2 cents in. As all have stated, this is an incredible book, not just of French cooking, but a slight peek into the French way of living and thinking. Obviously, Ina loves Paris, and all that is French, and you get that feeling as she deviates from strictly recipes, and goes into the various nuances of French life.

Those nuances are scattered throughout the book and peppered (no pun intended) in the introductions to her recipes. The photography and food styling is excellent as usual, and as long as you aren't expecting a Jacque Pepin or Julia Child style of French cooking, then you will enjoy Ina's more simple, peasant-style fare. She talks about the visual preparation of the French table and all the ways that you can make your dining experience as simple, fresh, and carefree as the dishes. And for those who are fellow "Parisians", she guides you through the streets and markets of Paris and gives you a tour of sorts, of that magical city.

INTRODUCTION

TO START:

All about French wines

Raspberry Royale

Kir

Cassisa l'Eau

Cheese Straws

Blioni with Smoked Salmon

Cheese Puffs (Gougeres....ummmmmmmm!!!)

Rosemary Cashews

Radishes with Salt and Herbed Butter

Potato Chips

LUNCH:

French Table Settings

Croque Monsieur

Blue Cheese Souffle

Salad with Warm Goat Cheese

Eggplant Gratin

Pissaladiere (a French pizza of sorts)

Goat Cheese Tart

Scrambled Eggs with Truffles

Herbed Baked Eggs

Spinach in Pastry Puff

Mussels in White Wine

Seafood Platter (with mustard sauce, cocktail sauce, mignonette sauce)

SOUP and SALAD:

All about French flowers

Winter Squash Soup

Provencal Veggie Soup (and homemade chicken stock, and pistou)

Zucchini Vichyssoise

Seafood Stew (and seafood stock)

Lentil Sausage Soup

Brioche Loaves

Celery Root Remoulade

Endive, Pear, and Roquefort Salad

Avocado and Grapefruit Salad

Fennel Salad

Warm Mushroom Salad

Green Salad Vinaigrette

DINNER:

All about French cookware (this was a blast; will make you want to visit!)

Lemon Chicken with Coutons

Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic (this was very mild in flavor)

Roast Duck

Chicken with Morels

Loin of Pork with Green Peppercorns

Boeuf Bourguignon

Filet of Beef au Poivre

Steak with Bearnaise Sauce

Veal Chops with Roquefort Butter

Roast Lamb with White Beans

Rack of Lamb Persillade

Roasted Striped Bass

Scallops Provencal

Salmon with Lentils

VEGETABLES:

About French cooking classes

Asparagus with Hollandaise

Vegetable Tian

Zucchini Gratin

Tomato Rice Pilaf

Roasted Beets

Matchstick Potatoes

Brussels Sprouts Lardons

Cauliflower Gratin

Morocccan Couscous

French String Beans

Sauteed Wild Mushrooms

Potato Celery Root Puree

Carmelized Shallots

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Herbed New Potatoes

DESSERTS:

About French cheese

Meringues Chantilly

Plum Raspberry Crumble

Ile Flottante

Lemon Meringue Tart (and lemon filling)

Pear Clafouti

Coeur a la Creme with Raspberries

Raspberry Sauce

Creme Amglaise

Baba au Rhum (rum-soaked doughy pastries with shipped cream; sooo good!)

Elephant Ears (very light, flaky, and delicate)

Mango Sorbet

Ice Cream Bombe

Plum Cake Tatin

Chocolate Orange Mousse

Brownie Tart

Pain Perdu

Peaches in Sauternes

Coconut Madeleines (dip the ends in chocolate!)

Strawberry Tarts

Pastry Cream

Profiteroles (the ultimate elegant French dessert!)

Chocolate Truffles

Creme Brulee

RESOURCES:

French ingredients to try

French cookware you'll want to have

Going to Paris? Then here's your guide with every place you'll want to visit to make your journey magical and complete (the best part, Ina!!!)

Credits and Index

Conversion Chart

Merci Ina!!

230 of 242 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Cook Beware!, May 2, 2005

By 

C. Swope (McLean, Virginia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Barefoot in Paris: Easy French Food You Can Make at Home (Hardcover)

The Barefoot Contessa cookbooks (I own all of them) can always be counted on if what you seek is a guaranteed "hit." Ina Garten's new book contains some of those. But, it seems to me that the book was rushed to press, because this book contains numerous oversights and glitches. I am a very experienced and confident home cook, and the "Ile Flottante" (floating island) recipe, for example, had me on my knees in despair. The intro assures us that it will be "worth every minute it takes to make." I lost track of the minutes it took to make this thing. The directions for making the caramel were so vague that my first attempt resulted in what I later learned is known as "crystallized" sugar. So, I turned to my faithful "Joy of Cooking" for clearer directions on how to make caramel (it's enormously nuanced, and definitely doesn't belong in a book that calls itself "easy.") Then, the meringues were supposed cook in 20 minutes. I have a brand new oven and an independent over themometer, and these took a good 40 minutes. The recipe says to "set aside" the caramel, which you later pour over the merigues--well, my caramel sat for about an hour, and when I went to pour it it was hard as a rock. Etc. Etc. She writes that her Moroccan Couscous is easy to reheat--but fails to explain how to reheat it without drying it out. The salmon with lentils recipe fails to mention when you add the lentils. Do you see what I mean? There are numerous oversights of this nature, making this a perilous book for any but an experienced cook. Glossy photos and a $35.00 sticker price cannot overcome sloppy basics. You can do better, Ina!

103 of 119 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Barefoot Contessa Says Oui, Oui!, November 9, 2004

By 

prisrob "pris," (New England USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Barefoot in Paris: Easy French Food You Can Make at Home (Hardcover)

Ina Garten is my idol, my idea of a great cook. Besides reading and using her many cookbooks, she can be seen weekly on the Food Network Channel. Her cooking is supreme and delicious, and she is able to show us that her recipes are simple and easy for all.

Now The Barefoot Contessa goes to Paris. Ina Garten had always dreamed of Paris since her parents brought her a dress from Paris when she was three years old. She and her adored husband, Jeffrey, first went to France and camped out and cooked over a fire and were able to eat very well for a mere pittance. The next time they went to Paris it was with style. Now, they own an apartment, and Ina Garten gives us the best recipes of the day. Plus, she tells us the best places to buy specialty foods,

cheese, pastries and chocolate, wine, cook and bake ware. The best place to buy flowers, and the very best restaurants with a small snippet of info for each.

The cookbook is separated into the usual sort of recipes- "To Start", Lunch, Soup and Salads, Dinner, Vegetables and Dessert. Beef Bourguignon- Ina tells us how to make this lucious stew within 90 mins. - easy and delicious. Beef au Poivre, all the flavor without the hassle- Veal chops with Roquefort Butter and Lamb with White Beans. The veggies are wonderful- green beans done the French way, Cauliflower gratin, and Asparagus with Hollandaise. The desserts are to die for, Meringue Chantilly, Pear Clafouti, Chocolate Orange Mousse, Chocolate Truffles and of course, Crème Brulee. Every recipe I have tried from Ina Garten's cookbooks has been superb. She never steers us wrong, and always has wonderful hints and great information about the food we are about to eat!

The pictures in this cookbook were photographed by Quentin Bacon, and they are lovely and vibrant. This is a beautiful cookbook, lovely to look at, and just wait until you make this food and present it to your family and/or friends. Yum, yum, So very highly recommended. prisrob