Secrets of The French Diet [Paperback]

Robert A. Ziff (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0966731506 | ISBN-13: 978-0966731507 | Publication Date: January 1, 1999

Put the most irresistible French food on your table every day--including those mouthwatering rich sauces--and still lose weight! Bring home the flavors of France, from simple bistro fare to that of elegant gourmet restaurants--you'll be amazed how quick and easy these exciting dishes are to prepare. Broccoli quiche, eggs in aspic, coq au vin, filet mignon in barnaise sauce, sea bass in mustard sauce, lobster americaine, crepes Suzette...the list goes on and on....

You'll learn why French cooking is the basis of all great Western cuisine today, why fat-free doesn't work, why people binge, how and what to order when you go out. You'll learn how to prepare meals from the quick and easy to a romantic diner for two to a Sunday Feast!

You'll have over a hundred recipes to choose from--all authentic--some written especially for the book by nine Michelin starred chefs from France. This is not a quick-weight loss fad diet, this is a way of life. Don't just read about "the French paradox," become a part of the excitement. It has worked for me, and I know it will work for you!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Excellent...this is a novel and creative approach to both cooking and dieting, and it is filled with superb French recipes, many of which are easy and quick." -- Chef Henri Patey, Chef-Professor Emeritus, Culinary Institute of America, Greystone, Napa Valley, California

Excellent...this is a novel and creative approach to both cooking and dieting, and it is filled with superb French recipes, many of which are easy and quick. -- Chef Henri Patey, Chef-Professor Emeritus, Culinary Institute of America, Greystone Campus, Napa Valley, California

It's simply wonderful! I love the book! It's a great cookbook for people who like to eat well, lose weight, and not skimp on quality meals. It's full of reliable information on good nutrition, yet it proves that eating well does not mean having to deprive oneself. -- Dr. Bruce Yaffe, internist and gastroenterologist, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, NY

About the Author

Robert A. Ziff, MD, is a practicing physician in coastal South Carolina. Before going to medical school, he spent seven years in the restaurant business, and taught at a hotel-restaurant school. After entering medical school, he became fascinated with nutrition, and learned a great deal about traditional concepts of dieting. During extensive travel in France, he learned the secrets of why the French remain slim and have such a low rate of cardiovascular disease. He has studied cooking around the world, for example with Peter Kump in New York, with Kathy Alex (Julia Child's student) in Provence, at the Culinary Institute in the Napa Valley, and at the Escoffier School at the Ritz in Paris. A member of the American Academy of Chefs for over ten years, he has succeeded in his own battle against fat, and has found the answers to the lifelong mystery of why people become overweight. Now, he wants to share them with you!

Product Details

• Paperback: 175 pages
• Publisher: Worldwide Publishing, Inc. (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966731506
• ISBN-13: 978-0966731507
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,202,671 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

79 of 82 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very Very Disappointing, May 9, 2001

By 

C. D. Murphy (Natick, MA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Secrets of The French Diet (Paperback)

This is less a book about the French paradox than it is a book on how to count calories. Thanks but I didn't need to spend money to figure that out. I wanted to know more about the French approach to eating, which he only briefly covers. His 22 secrets to the French diet include such worthless memes such as exercise more. Novel! He spends a lot of time telling the reader that low-fat diets are worthless, but a bunch of recipes include low-fat and low-cal substitutes. That's a fine approach, but not one the French would use. So he should have just named this book "How to Eat Lite with semi-French recipes". I would not recommend this to people who want to eat like the French because while some of these are covered, it's not all that hard to look them up on the net. You're better off researching on your own and spending the money on a real French cook book.

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The French Paradox Explained!, January 3, 2001

By 

Lee Mellott "Skin Care For Wrinkles" (Frederick, Maryland) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: Secrets of The French Diet (Paperback)

In this oversized softcover book Robert Ziff M.D. explains the "French Paradox". How the French eat rich fatty foods, drink wine, etc. yet manage to stay so slim. The book is divided into three sections. In the first section Ziff describes the basic ideas behind the French eating style. He gives the formula to determine your ideal weight the French way (this was a bit complicated). He also explains the 22 principles the French naturally follow to eat well and stay sleek. These include slowing down the eating process so your stomach has a chance to savor and realize its full, eating lots of fruits and vegetables and eating moderate portions. Many of these ideas we may have already read, yet Ziff explains them in such a way that makes an impression. Ziff describes the typical French breakfast, lunch and dinner. Section two covers basic kitchen equipment, pots, pans, knifes etc. Section three is the recipe section. He has included a variety of recipes so you can cook authentic gourmet meals at home, and lose weight. Sample recipes include: Roasted chicken with grapefruit and pink peppercorns, roast loin of pork with prunes and apples, stuffed cabbage leaves, home-style shrimp, a number of sauce recipes and many others! Though the list of recipes is extensive, it did not include any bread recipes. Since bread is a mainstay of the French diet, I would have liked to learn how to bake a loaf or what to look for in an authentic French style loaf. The tone of the book is very friendly and I feel Ziff does an excellent job of explaining how the French enjoy their cuisine and stay slender and how we can translate that to our lifestyle!

33 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I agree with the review submitted May 6, 2004..., May 13, 2004

By 

Jennifer Hughes "Take me to Paris!" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Secrets of The French Diet (Paperback)

I have been reading other books on the french way of life and eating, such as Will Clower's "Fat Fallacy" and Anne Barone's "Chic and Slim." This book goes a lot against what I have been reading in other books. Such as the calorie counting Ziff suggests.

Also, he promotes the use of artificial sweetener and I even saw where he suggested a low-fat or low-cal salad dressing if you do not like traditional oil-and-vinegar vinegrette. Most low-fat or low-cal dressings you find on the supermarket shelves are loaded with chemicals, sweeteners, or added perservatives that are not good for you. You should make your own dressing at home, which would be a healthier alternative to supermarket dressings.

The pictures were all black and white, mostly of him or a lady eating at various restaurants. The sparse pictures of actual food dishes were lackluster and not appetizing at all!

In general, this book is very contradictory to others I have previously read and confusing! I submitted a return request today for my copy and will be receiving a refund. Don't waste your time with this one!