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Mastering the Art of French Cooking (2 Volume Set) [Box set] [Hardcover]

Julia Child , Louisette Bertholle , Simone Beck
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (269 customer reviews)

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Book Description

December 1, 2009
The perfect gift for any follower of Julia Child—and any lover of French food. This boxed set brings together Mastering the Art of French Cooking, first published in 1961, and its sequel, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume Two, published in 1970.

Volume One is the classic cookbook, in its entirety—524 recipes.
“Anyone can cook in the French manner anywhere,” wrote Mesdames Beck, Bertholle, and Child, “with the right instruction.” And here is the book that, for nearly fifty years, has been teaching Americans how.

Mastering the Art of French Cooking is for both seasoned cooks and beginners who love good food and long to reproduce at home the savory delights of the classic cuisine, from the historic Gallic masterpieces to the seemingly artless perfection of a dish of spring-green peas. The techniques learned in this beautiful book, with more than one hundred instructive illustrations, can be applied to recipes in all other French cookbooks, making them infinitely usable. In compiling the secrets of famous Cordon Bleu chefs, the authors produced a magnificent volume that continues to have a place of honor in American kitchens.

Volume Two is the sequel to the great cooking classic—with 257 additional recipes. Following the publication of the celebrated Volume One, Julia Child and Simone Beck continued to search out and sample new recipes among the classic dishes and regional specialties of France—cooking, conferring, tasting, revising, perfecting. Out of their discoveries they made, for Volume Two, a brilliant selection of precisely those recipes that not only add to the repertory but, above all, bring the reader to a new level of mastery of the art of French cooking.

Each of these recipes is worked out step-by-step, with the clarity and precision that are the essence of the first volume. Five times as many drawings as in Volume One make the clear instructions even more so.

Perhaps the most remarkable achievement of this volume is that it will make Americans actually more expert than their French contemporaries in two supreme areas of cookery: baking and charcuterie. In France one can turn to the local bakery for fresh and expertly baked bread, or to neighborhood charcuterie for pâtés and terrines and sausages. Here, most of us have no choice but to create them for ourselves.
Bon appétit!

Frequently Bought Together

Mastering the Art of French Cooking (2 Volume Set) + Julia's Kitchen Wisdom: Essential Techniques and Recipes from a Lifetime of Cooking
Price for both: $63.01

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Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Revised edition of the classic cookbook, originally published in 1961. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Julia Child was born in Pasadena, California. She graduated from Smith College and worked for the OSS during World War II in Ceylon and China, where she met Paul Child. After they were married they lived in Paris, where Ms. Child studied at the Cordon Bleu and taught cooking with Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle, with whom she wrote the first volume of Mastering the Art of French Cooking (1961).
In 1963 Boston’s WGBH launched The French Chef television series, which made Julia Child a national celebrity, earning her the Peabody Award in 1965 and an Emmy in 1966. Her subsequent public television shows—Julia Child & Company (1978), Julia Child & More Company (1980), Cooking with Master Chefs (1993), In Julia’s Kitchen with Master Chefs (1995), Baking with Julia (1996), and her one-on-one collaboration with Jacques Pépin, Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home (1999)—were all accompanied by books of the same names. The Way to Cook, her magnum opus, was published in 1989, and in 2000 she gave us Julia’s Kitchen Wisdom, a distillation of her years of cooking experience. Her memoir, My Life in France, was published posthumously in 2006. She died in 2004.

Product Details

  • Hardcover
  • Publisher: Knopf (December 1, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0307593525
  • ISBN-13: 978-0307593528
  • Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 7.5 x 3.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 6.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (269 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,999 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Julia Child was born in Pasadena, California. She was graduated from Smith College and worked for the OSS during World War II in Ceylon and China, where she met Paul Child. After they married they lived in Paris, where she studied at the Cordon Bleu and taught cooking with Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle, with whom she wrote the first volume of Mastering the Art of French Cooking (1961). In 1963, Boston's WGBH launched The French Chef television series, which made her a national celebrity, earning her the Peabody Award in 1965 and an Emmy in 1966. Several public television shows and numerous cookbooks followed. She died in 2004.

(Photo credit: (C) Michael P. McLaughlin)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
394 of 405 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars THE French cookbook, after all these years December 12, 2009
Format:Hardcover
Like the famous Julie of "Julie and Julia", a lot of us aspiring amateur cooks tried to work through this book in the 70's. We made a lot of the recipes, including a memorable "Dacquoise" meringue and praline cake for grad school parties. (We eked out a seminar dinner budget to cover the speaker and two or three guests at a restaurant and turned it into dinner for 30 or so by cooking at a faculty member's house. This was our main cookbook for many of those dinners.)

The basics on vegetables are here--maybe a bit plain by today's standards, or sometimes overly complicated (who is going to fight with an artichoke or make a moussaka a la turque steamed in a lining of eggplant skin in a timbale mould) but most of the recipes are well worth the effort.

Book One has main dishes and a few desserts, soups, of course and vegetables. Book Two has more ambitious baking (the infamous Dacquoise) and even baguettes, which still don't come out quite right as American flour has a different ash content and American ovens don't produce steam like professional ovens. The pastry section is particularly good in both; you can learn to make a pate sable or a kind of sugar-cookie like crust that is dead useful for tarts. I've also used the Creme Bavaroise many a time; a lot of work, beating gelatin, cream and carefully unmolding what looks like a simple mousse in a decorative ring mould but is a very elegant dessert that serves quite a few, especially sliced, and plated with fresh berries and a drizzle of sauce. It adapts to many flavors (passion fruit, strawberry, chocolate, mocha) and is one of my favorite classics that you just don't see anymore.
... Read more ›
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108 of 109 people found the following review helpful
By kdj
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
There are very few books that have had such a profound effect on their field. This book set is transformative - you will never view cooking food the same way again. I grew up watching Julia Child on my local PBS affiliate with no idea that she was anything other than a local cooking talent with a strange affect. After college, I found a copy of volume one in a used book store and can hear her voice in every recipe, stage of directions, and sage advice.
After many years, my family loves her beef stew - a regular dinner in our home. I despised French Onion soup growing up, but after following her directions it is my favorite.
One criticism of this book is the production. After many years of publishing technology improvements, the lack of photos to explain some butchery techniques makes this set a bit dated if you expect visual guides to some steps. Be patient, re-read, and have confidence. These are spectacular dishes made with simple techniques that even someone who grew up on canned soup and boxed dinners figured out.
If I was trapped on a remote island with only one cooking instructional resource, then this would be my choice. Everything else is a far distant second place.
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97 of 108 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
With the help of this book, I taught myself to cook using the basic French cooking instructions in the book. Thirty some years later, after two-year's work/study in a small (then non-accredited) cooking school, I still refer to it. I refer to it for many reasons, least of which is to jog my memory. My ancient copy (circa 1960?) is coming apart at the binding, so I need to replace it. This book is inspiration!
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40 of 44 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars WOW-The Very Best Cookbook of any cuisine September 22, 1999
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I became interested in cooking when I moved out of the dorm in 1970. The quest for good food led to a life-long passion for honest good food. The French approach eating with a sincereity Americans lack. Julia has been able to present classic French Cuisine to generations of Americans. This set of two volumes contains the essence of French cooking that will serve as a foundation to wherever one travels on the food road. Mine is almost disentegrating from years of loving use, and I am replacing one for the library, but plan to continue to use my dog-eared friend!
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57 of 65 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Can make anyone into a French Chef December 12, 1998
Format:Paperback
I discovered this cookbook several years ago and, at least gastronomically, it changed my life forever. The recipes are broken down into the absolute simplest steps possible. The sauces are phenomenal. One can finally appreciate the notoriety that French cooking has (deservedly) earned by preparing and tasting any of these recipes. Julia has confirmed me as a French cooking fan!
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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Deliciously Detailed December 18, 2009
By Erica S
Format:Hardcover
I recently received this set and could not be more pleased! The recipes I have tried so far have been fantastic, while the descriptions and details for preparing and cooking the meals are excellent. I would highly recommend these cookbooks to anyone who wants to do some authentic French cooking or who simply wants a great way to shake up the same old recipes for family and friends!
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23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've had this set for about 5 weeks, and, no, I have not made all 500+ recipes. It is a classic every serious cook should have in his/her kitchen. While I am not much of a meat eater, the recipes around meat are superb. On the other hand, I was not all that impressed with the suggestions on how to cook veggies. I think they are too time-consuming and the results are lackluster at best. If you want to remove all life from the vegetables follow the indicated cooking times. If you like some color, texture, and taste you may want to cut the times in half or just follow your instinct and test for doneness. I will certainly try a larger variety to see if this initial assessment holds true but for now, that is my impression.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Perfect addition to the collection!
Great reference guide and the volume set is very attractive. I've also seen these set go for 2x as much in kitchen stores. Much better deal online!
Published 5 days ago by SaltyPen
4.0 out of 5 stars Great Value
Getting both volumes for the price of one is nice. Additionally, unlike other versions, no movie pictures to sully up the work. Read more
Published 8 days ago by Big Creek
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Gift
I bought this as a gift. It arrived on time and undammaged. The books are nice and kept together in a sleeve. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in cooking. Read more
Published 10 days ago by Scott
5.0 out of 5 stars A Narrative for the Kitchen
This is the perfect book set for individuals that love their personal exploratory time in the kitchen. Read more
Published 13 days ago by Caleb Stinson
5.0 out of 5 stars It will take more than this, but.....
Anyone who reads learns quickly not to judge a book by its cover. And in this case it is doubly important because neither the look nor the title serve as any indication of what is... Read more
Published 17 days ago by Howard Peacock
4.0 out of 5 stars for those who really, and seriously want to learn to cook
Good book for your kitchen shelf, it is more like a reference book with great tips.
I recommend it for persons with a pasion for cooking, not for the persons who cook to... Read more
Published 25 days ago by T. Rae
5.0 out of 5 stars I love it
It's clear, easy to follow...
Just wonderfull, if you like to cook and want to experiment french cook from the begining, this is the cookbook you nead
Published 1 month ago by Luzana Davila Garcia
2.0 out of 5 stars Great Looking Book: Not Very Healthful
The book's layout and illustrations are wonderfully detailed: red letter highlights, fine illustrations, high quality paper, and embossed book cover. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Maria P.
5.0 out of 5 stars Ok so I watch too much tv
Watched Julia Julia and bought this on a whim...I have yet to make one recipe out of it but it is on my to do list lol
Published 1 month ago by rnbron
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, delicious, exquisite!
I bought Mastering the Art of French Cooking (2 books) to give to my daughter for her birthday. She has raved with excitement ever since. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Loving Spirit
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