Too full from yesterday's Thanksgiving meal to think about food? That's too bad, because I have a great foodie memoir for you!
Ann Mah and her diplomat husband, Calvin, lived in New York, Beijing and Washington, D.C., during the few years they'd been married. Then, in 2008, Calvin got a dream posting: three years in Paris. Ecstatically, they packed their belongings, only to have Calvin sent onward for a year's posting in Baghdad. Because of the dangers there, Ann wasn't allowed to accompany him, and found herself alone in Paris.
Like Julia Child, another diplomat's wife, Ann decided to spend her year learning about the history of French cuisine by taking a series of excursions around France in search of famous regional dishes. She devours crêpes in Brittany, boeuf bourguignon in Burgundy, fondue in Haute-Savoie, soupe au pistou in Provence.
Along the way, Mah learns how hard it is to live alone, perfects her French, starts to make friends and creates a solid career of her own (to escape the feeling that she's merely following Calvin around the world).
Mastering the Art of French Eating: Lessons in Food and Love from a Year in Paris
is chock-full of
delicious recipes, luscious descriptions of the French countryside and
fascinating glimpses into Ann's background and personal life. Her
Chinese-American perspective on French culture makes for interesting
insights, and her love of cooking and food shine through the pages of
the book. Armchair travelers and foodies alike will enjoy Mastering the Art of French Eating.I'm adding this one to my list of favorite travel/food books (which also includes A Homemade Life
, which I reviewed a few years ago, and My Berlin Kitchen
). Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Should I recommend this to my grandma? Sure! Especially if she's a good cook!
What's your favorite foodie memoir?
I originally wrote this review for Shelf Awareness for Readers. And there are a couple of affiliate links.
