Food Lover's Guide to France [Paperback]

Patricia Wells (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 4, 1987

From the author of the acclaimed Food Lover's Guide to Paris, here is a passionate, discriminating guide to the rest of France-from the camembert farms of Normandy to the tree-shaded farms of Provence. Easy to find, or off the beaten track, steeped in tradition or newly established, her discoveries are too wonderful to be overlooked.

Chapters are arranged by province, and being with an introduction to the region, including a map, the best months to visit, and a schedule of daily markets. Entries include phone numbers, business hours, and specific directions where necessary.

Each chapter also serves up a bonus sampling of the region's signature dishes, all tested for American kitchens. Accented by over 150 evocative photographs taken especially for the book, and featuring a French/English food glossary with more than 1000 entries, this guide captures the food magic that is France. 59,000 copies in print. Selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In her typically thorough style, Wells (The Food Lover's Guide to Paris notes fairs and festivals that take place in each region of France: when going to Alsace, for example, one can plan the trip to coincide with the Frog Fair, the Snail Fair, the Sausage Fair, the French Fry Fair, the Stuffed Veal Breast Festival, the Turnip Festival or Sauerkraut Days. But this book is about more than what to eat and where to find it. Wells discusses outstanding restaurants, small and large; recommends lively markets; suggests further reading material; mentions food-related museums (such as one devoted to the art of gathering sea salt); notes shops that sell pottery and kitchen equipment; explains how to choose a Camembert; offers recipes (adapted for the American kitchen); describes the wines and cheeses of each region; and even translates wonderful food-related French idioms ("to have the heart of an artichoke" is to be fickle). More than a travel guide or cookbook, this exhilarating compendium is a mosaic of the French culinary soul.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Patricia Wells is the author of The Food Lover’s Guide to Paris, The Food Lover’s Guide to France, Bistro Cooking, Simply French, and Trattoria.

Product Details

• Paperback: 559 pages
• Publisher: Workman Publishing Company; Wrap Has Moderate Shelfwear edition (January 4, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0894803069
• ISBN-13: 978-0894803062
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #922,333 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Food Lover's Guide to France, August 27, 2000

By 

"sandralaumartins" (Menlo Park, Ca USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Food Lover's Guide to France (Paperback)

I found this book in Paris, translated into French, and so was very surprised after a few weeks of using it to finally notice that it was not written by a native Parisian. Ms. Wells makes very detailed comments about each restaurant's menu, service, as well as ambiance and history. The write-ups of the restaurants and other food places are interspersed with brief articles on French lifestyle, cheeses, wines, customs, and other foodie points of interest that I wouldn't have thought to look up but which I found extremely interesting. I had bought it simply as an aid to finding decent food but as it turns out, The Food Lover's Guide is also a wonderful mini-guide through French life and history.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars good book, has ruined a lot of good places, though, April 23, 2001

By 

zach (chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Food Lover's Guide to France (Paperback)

PW knows her stuff. I bought this after going to PAris several dozen times and found that most of what I liked she had recomended, as well as many many places that I didn't know.

The only problem was that every where I went, even to places I had never seen a tourist in, were now full of tourists with her book on the table, ordering the exact meal she had recomended.

a truly powerful pen

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Many other good places, June 3, 2006

By 

Pro Chef "Pro Chef New York" (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Food Lover's Guide to France (Paperback)

Not so sure she is fair about who she rates highly. I went to a few places that were way below average. I do like like some of her sidebars.