Gastronomy is a wonderful starting point to study France and the French. As the retired school master from Provence says 'The religion of France is food. And wine, of course.' And they put their money where their mouth is, spending a greater proportion of their income on food and drink than any other nation in the world. Literally hundreds of gastronomic fairs and festivals take place throughout the year all over France - a frog fair, an hommage to the sausage, to the turnip, to the quiche and the noble Camembert. What kind of person is a snail-fancier? Is there a brotherhood of sausage connoisseurs? How can you devote an entire weekend to the French fry? Peter Mayle finds out and brings hilariously and affectionately to life the people who can get passionate about a frog's leg or a well-turned omelette. Over ten years ago he transformed our feelings about Provence, now he captures the irresistible essence of France herself - and her food.
Bon Appetit!
and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more. |
Book Description
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Amazon Review
Peter Mayle, author of the bestselling A Year in Provence has done it again--but differently. Travelling this time beyond his adopted Provence throughout France, the food and travel writer has produced Bon Appetit!, a celebration of many of the country's gastronomic joys. Whether pursuing La Foire de Fromages, the annual cheese fair at Livarot; a Burgundian marathon offering runners Médoc refreshment; or a village truffle mass that concludes with a heady dégustation of the newly blessed tuber, Mayle takes his readers in hand and shows all. Wide-eyed yet knowing, ever affable but with a touch of mischief, he's an ideal companion, the best possible narrator of his lively food adventures.
Mayle's gastronomic baptism occurs when, as a 19-year-old, he dines for the first time in France. "At the first mouthful of French bread and French butter," he writes, "my taste buds, dormant until then, went into spasm." The paroxysm leads to serious food-and-wine perambulations--and, finally, to chapters including "The Thigh-Taster of Vitel" (a frog-eating fete), "Slow Food" (snail love in Martigny les Bains) and "The Guided Stomach" (an investigation of the Michelin Guide restaurant inspection) among others. Readers are also present for a debate on the secret of the perfect omelette, a search for the best possible chicken in Bourg-en-Bresse and a visit to a St Tropez restaurant notable for its scantily clad habitués. Those familiar with Mayle's work, and those yet to discover it, are in for a treat. --Arthur Boehm
Review
Peter Mayle's idyllic portrait makes you almost taste the wonderful food and wine, feel the sun and balmy breezes (SUNDAY EXPRESS )
Delightfully readable. The style is high comedy and Mayle is bitingly funny about local rural mores. But the jokeyness only partly obscures Mayle's warm enthusiasm for local life and landscape. (SUNDAY TIMES )
A gastronomic delight. (SUNDAY TRIBUNE )
Delightfully readable. The style is high comedy and Mayle is bitingly funny about local rural mores. But the jokeyness only partly obscures Mayle's warm enthusiasm for local life and landscape. (SUNDAY TIMES )
A gastronomic delight. (SUNDAY TRIBUNE )
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
After a brief detour into the realm of fiction Peter Mayle here returns to what he does best: selling the French and their many humorous mannerisms to us Francophobic Brits! Bon Appetit acts as a tour guide to the regional culinary peculiarities that is France; from the annual truffle Mass at Richerenches near Orange to the ultimate in detoxes at Michel Guerard's spa at Eugenie-les-Bains this is a book which should not be read with an empty stomach. Mayle's histrionic prose is liberally seasoned with descriptions of frog's leg and Bresse chicken, truffle omelette and Burgundian bender - this being a festival known as "les Trois Glorieuses" and a cutely French excuse for grown men to dress up in robes and hats and drink copiously for three days. In England we would call it a lads' weekend in Blackpool!
Bon Appetit does not pretend to be an exhaustive guide to all things French and food-oriented but it does present us with a candid snapshot of a nation enjoying its culinary riches; in every chapter there seem to be colourful locals who are prepared to humour this naive Englishman and explain in painstaking detail why it is not recommended to eat wild snails or how to be a champion cheese eater. Mayle, like Paul Theroux, seems to attach himself magnetically to these characters and, at times, it becomes a little tiresome, cliched almost when another friendly local clears his throat in an attempt to educate our author. That said, Bon Appetit is a slickly written and informative introduction to the pros and cons of French cuisine. It will make you laugh, it will make you salivate and it will make you look twice at those little shelled molluscs that seem intent on devouring your entire garden every night. Good eating!
Bon Appetit does not pretend to be an exhaustive guide to all things French and food-oriented but it does present us with a candid snapshot of a nation enjoying its culinary riches; in every chapter there seem to be colourful locals who are prepared to humour this naive Englishman and explain in painstaking detail why it is not recommended to eat wild snails or how to be a champion cheese eater. Mayle, like Paul Theroux, seems to attach himself magnetically to these characters and, at times, it becomes a little tiresome, cliched almost when another friendly local clears his throat in an attempt to educate our author. That said, Bon Appetit is a slickly written and informative introduction to the pros and cons of French cuisine. It will make you laugh, it will make you salivate and it will make you look twice at those little shelled molluscs that seem intent on devouring your entire garden every night. Good eating!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
Taking a break from Provence Peter Mayle takes us on a gastronomic tour of France and visits places that celebrate such items as frogs legs, snails, cheese and of course, wine. Although I was a bit apprehensive about buying this book as it seemed to be a change of direction for Peter, and I really loved his books on Provence, I can say that it is very entertaining as well as educational. If you are looking for a light read and still need that bit of escapism then this book is recommended. Its a fun read eventhough the particular culinary delights of various towns may not be to everyones taste!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By agamemnon
Format:Paperback
This is the book to read if you want to know about, or perhaps visit, all those food fairs and festivals celebrated by our French neighbours across the Channel. They have whole weekends devoted to the truffle, the humble snail, a special cheese... And as ever with Peter Mayle, the French participants are full of Gallic charm and unconsciously entertaining to us over here. Peter tours around the country visiting many towns and villages, and gives a helpful resume of festivals at the end for anyone keen to retrace his steps. Great fun!
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 7 reviews
3.6 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pleasant read
I much enjoyed this book probably because I like France, food and Peter Mayle's style of writing. A pleasant easy read.
Published 4 months ago by DoubleK
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another great read
Yet another great read from Peter Mayle, which, along with Sean Frain's A Lake District Journey and the best-selling Driving Over Lemons, will be counted as one of my favourite... Read more
Published 7 months ago by fithie
4.0 out of 5 stars
From the pen of the master
Another excellent (although slightly dated now)espistle from the pen of Peter Mayle. The antics of the French in relation to the care of their stomachs are detailed with a sharp... Read more
Published 12 months ago by JMH
4.0 out of 5 stars
Bon Appetit!
My first Kindle purchase, have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Peter Mayle certainly makes you feel as though you are sitting at the table with him. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Texas Jenni
4.0 out of 5 stars
bon apetit
I like food. I like France. So does Peter Mayle. I liked this book. I am hooked on books about France and about eating. This is why I choose my guidebooks wisely. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Mrs H Terry
4.0 out of 5 stars
Culinary travels through France
First Peter Mayle book that I have read. Enjoyable read.
Working his way round fairs (all with a culinary aspect) in France PM in each chapter looks at the French "obsession"... Read more
Working his way round fairs (all with a culinary aspect) in France PM in each chapter looks at the French "obsession"... Read more
Published on 10 Dec 2010 by Ally Bally G
4.0 out of 5 stars
A fun, foody romp through France; 3.5 stars
If you like your foodie anecdotes to be both informative yet quirky, then this is most certainly the book for you. Read more
Published on 16 Mar 2010 by Nicola F (Nic)
4.0 out of 5 stars
More Cheese, Vicar ?
Peter Mayle is probably best known for his two travelogues set in Provence - "A Year in Provence" and "Toujours Provence". Read more
Published on 23 July 2008 by Craobh Rua
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
