Clotilde's Edible Adventures in Paris (Paperback)

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Key Phrases: chocolatiers chocolate shops, cavistes wine shops, course menu carte, Saint Paul, Notre Dame de Lorette, Faidherbe Chaligny (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Dusoulier (Chocolate and Zucchini) combines the best of easy-to-page-through travel guides with the friendly, immediate feel of her charming blog and other Internet resources to provide the ideal foodie's guide to Paris. Dusoulier's inquisitiveness, sharp observation and affection for list-making serve her well in making this culinary heaven seem manageable. Her restaurant recommendations for each of the 20 arrondissements feel fresh and personalized, like tips from a friend, and most are relatively affordable if one follows Dusoulier's advice for when and what to eat. She also includes a welcome range of cuisines, unlike many Paris guides; boxed sections feature Japanese, Indian and Chinese quarters of the city, with food from numerous other nations sprinkled throughout, but she doesn't neglect classic brasseries and neo-bistros. Nearly as valuable as the lists are Dusoulier's pointers on reading menus, how to treat the staff and French restaurant quirks. The book's second half features judiciously selected markets, bakeries, cheese shops and other specialty outlets; again, international travelers will be gratified by her attention to non-French stores as well as those selling the best escargots, honey and wine from around the country. Topping off the book, a dozen intriguing recipes. (Apr.)
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Review

Dusoulier covers just what an outsider might need to respectfully and happily nibble his way through town. [...] There's a joy and depth to the writing that's not often seen in guidebooks. -- Omaha World-Herald, July 6, 2008

Dusoulier goes beyond simply listing recommended restaurants. She hunts down the best Paris has to offer and weaves in advice on how to understand French menus, how to order food correctly and how to behave in a French food store. -- NPR

[Dusoulier's] finds are small, original spots a few paces off the tourist track. -- The Wall Street Journal

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Broadway (April 22, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767926137
• ISBN-13: 978-0767926133
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #13,766 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A perfect overall foodie guide, April 26, 2008

By	S. Smerud (San Diego, California USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This guide is just perfect for a foodie. Clotilde not only provides suggestions for all types of restaurants, she goes even further to give information on every food-related aspect of a vacation in Paris. With this book we will now be able to shop the best farmers' markets we otherwise might have missed. We're looking forward to experiencing the different neighborhood streets and markets, each with their distinct characteristics. We also now know the very best bakeries and shops for chocolate, pastries, candy, ice cream, spices, cheese, specialty food items, cured meats, prepared foods, fish, gourmet products, tea, coffee, wine, books, cookware, tableware, and even food shows. There are also great tips on French phrases and customs that will allow us to enjoy our trip to the fullest. This is the only guide of its kind.

Although comprehensive, I only wish there was more. However, that would probably just require additional and lesser suggestions. If we asked a friend for recommendations, this is just the guide we would want. Unlike most guides, there is not a long list of lackluster destinations taking up space with descriptions of why they are not recommended. Only recommended spots are listed, which is all we really need and allows the book to be a good size and easily referenced.

Clotilde boils down the city to its essence, providing only the best information in a well-organized format. The book is a good size to carry around. There is also more content on Clotilde's blog. We can't wait to put all of this information to good use in a few months when we're in Paris!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Never steered us wrong!, June 4, 2008

By	G. Bond "JLL" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Just returned from our first trip to Paris and ate at about 7-8 of the recommended restaurants/shops in this book. EVERY recommendation was perfect; I don't think I've ever had a travel guidebook that seemed so spot on! The shops Ms Dusoulier mentions are charming and stocked with impeccable products. The restaurants were all fantastic and exactly as described. Half way through the trip we ditched our other guidebook and relied exclusively on this one for food! I especially liked the listings for bakeries, cheese shops, etc. You don't usually find so many of them in guidebooks. The extra info she peppers throughout the text was also much appreciated (dining customs in France, descriptions of important dishes, etc). One of the nicest features is that the book lists the nearest Metro stop AND cross streets for all businesses. This is so much more helpful than just an address, which can be impossible to find on an unfamiliar map. The index was great too, listing places by name but also neighborhood. That was very helpful when planning where to eat, since we could just look up the neighborhood we were in at the moment and see what was nearby. Plus, it is a fun read! I read the whole thing before leaving for Paris and really enjoyed it, though I suppose I may not have enjoyed it as much if I were not visiting the city.

The only thing that would have made this book slightly more useful would have been some maps. Even if the maps weren't quite detailed enough to show everything, they would have meant we didn't always have to pull out a giant city map too. Still, that's a very small complaint and one that didn't detract at all from my enjoyment of the book.

I highly recommend this book for anyone traveling to Paris or just looking to learn more about the Paris food scene.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wish I'd had this book when I was in Paris., May 16, 2008

By	M. Erickson "M. Erickson" (Yakima, WA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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This book wasn't yet available when I visited Paris last month. Clotilde has written the quintessential book for "foodies" who want to experience all Paris has to offer. This book is small (about 5" square) and is just the right size to carry in a purse or backpack. She has visited all of the places she recommendsand there's a great variety of different eateries (ice cream shops, restaurants, candy stores, patisseries, etc). She even explains the difference between bistros, cafes and restaurants. It's a lot easier to peruse a French menu after she explains the "ins and outs" of how to order (and behave) at a restaurant. I wish I'd had this book when I was eating my way through Paris. Be sure to visit her blog [...] for her recipes and insights on the Paris food scene.