There is magic and mystery in the farmhouse known as Pistoulet, nestled in the remote, untraveled southwestern French countryside. Originally published in 1996, this 15th anniversary edition of The Secrets of Pistoulet tells the gentle tale of the healing power of magical soups and foods, while celebrating the redemptive and sustaining nature of shared meals among friends and family. With fold-out letters, removable recipe cards and pockets, and special vellum pages, The Secrets of Pistoulet quickly became a bestselling gift book. There’s no better time to rediscover its magic.
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"Far away in the remote, untraveled southwestern French countryside, there is a small village which contains two homes, an eleventh-century church, and a very special farm known as Pistoulet." Thus begins The Secrets of Pistoulet, a charming and beautiful little book filled with food, magic, and love. Part fiction, part cookbook, this richly illustrated book is reminiscent of the popular Griffin and Sabine, with its collection of letters to be removed from envelopes, and recipes tucked into their own little pockets. Drawings, photographs, snippets of diaries, and mysterious maps decorate this tale of Mademoiselle J., who arrives at Pistoulet with a broken heart. There she is welcomed by the farm's tenants: Madame Claude; Monsieur Andre; the black dog, Marcel; and a chicken that lays golden eggs. Soon, such soul-strengthening dishes as Potage of Babble (guaranteed to cease excessive chatter), Potage of Passion (Cooks beware: this soup has been known to result in marriage proposals!), and Tart of Sunshine (sure to heat both body and soul) have Mademoiselle J. on the road to recovery.
The Secrets of Pistoulet packs a lot of charm into a small package. Readers who love to cook will want to try these simple, tasty recipes, though it may be difficult in some cases to follow the directions exactly ("Go to the nearest fishing port and acquire moules from the fisherman with the largest pecs and most tattoos....). Those who don't will be more than content to simply imagine these sumptuous meals as they, along with Mademoiselle J., attempt to unlock Pistoulet's magical mysteries.
About the Author
Jana Kolpen is the author of The Legend of the Villa della Luna and The Circle of Kindness, which each illustrate her passion for fine food, wine, and travel. She lives in New York City. Designer Mary Tiegreen is the creator of STC’s 101 Reasons to Love series. She lives in the Hudson Valley.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
For the wondering, wandering many...,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Secrets of Pistoulet, 15th Anniversary Edition (Hardcover)
Enchantment, beautiful artwork, and empathic cooking mark the success of this book that touches readers' hearts in places often forgotten.At first, because of a marketing display at a local department store, I thought The Secrets of Pistoulet was not for individual sale, but could only be obtained by purchasing Pistoulet dinnerware. The book so touched me, I briefly considered buying the darn dishes! Luckily, I found the book right here, standing on its own. It hardly needs its own china to promote sales; in fact, the opposite may just be true. This little book is a great marketing ploy to sell the whimsical, pastel dishes that are said to be the very plates used to serve the magical Potages created at Pistoulet. A marketing genius, I tell you, but that is beside the point. The book is lovely, simple and true-to-heart. Tucked with mouth-watering recipes, paintings, photographs and excellent folklore, this book reminds us that food does not just feed the stomach - it feeds the soul. I plan to keep it displayed in my kitchen with a simple spray of herbs and oils, to be read by any lost soul who happens to pass by...
32 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a secret to share,
By belinda anne broido (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Secrets of Pistoulet, 15th Anniversary Edition (Hardcover)
Secrets of Pistoulet has such a divine simplicity you may at first not recognize the unique depth and richness of spirit. This has become the one must have book for all my friends. In fact, this is one "Secret" I intend to share with anyone near and dear to me. I found this book to be an inspiration for anyone who loves to cook, to think, to be amused and touched. The illustrations perfectly match the mood and peacefulness of the whole experience. You will find yourself coming back to this small wonder over and over.
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Food for the soul,
By
This review is from: The Secrets of Pistoulet, 15th Anniversary Edition (Hardcover)
This book is one that I share with all my dear friends. I read it to a friend of mine who had just lost her dad, with whom she had sat as he lay dying of cancer in the hospital. She was returning home after settling his estate and stayed the night in my home. I read it to her as she fell asleep. When she awoke the next morning, she said that it was her first night of peaceful sleep in a long time. My reading this story to her aloud had had touched her so deeply that she decided to share it at her father's memorial service. I loved Griffin and Sabine as well, but the two books should not be compared. I loved this as much as Like Water for Chocolate and Babette's Feast. A ne pas manquer.
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