Bistro Cooking [Paperback]

In this warm look into the world of French bistro food, eminent food writer Patricia Wells reveals her love for this simple, robust cuisine in a collection of recipes garnered from France's best bistros. From "Warm Potato Salad with Herbed Vinaigrette" to "Lamb Stew in White Wine" to "Pear Clafoutis", Wells admits her preference for hearty, homey bistro dishes. Through clearly written recipes, Wells encourages cooks to buy the best ingredients and turn them into fragrant, warming dishes. Each recipe has a headnote telling where it came from and alluding to its flavour. Pithy quotes throughout the book relate to bistro style--in cooking, serving and eating--and historical quotations give a cultural connotation. Wine choices reach deep into the heart of France, from a crisp white from Provence such as a Chateau Simone with lamb, to a good Cotes du Rhone (Cru du Coudelet) with guinea hen. From the introduction to the last dessert recipe (for "Prunes in Red Wine"), Ms. Wells and Bistro Cooking is sure to please not just the novice in the kitchen, but the experienced cook as well. The recipes have been carefully selected to appeal to the reader and cook who want to set wonderful food on the table with a minimum of fuss. --Susan Loomis

French food we want to eat... simple, homely and pure-flavoured.

A collection of 200 recipes to celebrate both the classics of the French table and newer earthy dishes from bistros all over France. The recipes are not only from bistro owners, but also from housewives, farmers, wine-makers, bread-bakers and many others who contribute to the bistro way of life.

Patricia Wells, a former reporter for The New York Times and a critic for the International Herald Tribune , was the first female and foreign restaurant critic for French weekly, L'Express. She lives in Paris and Provence, alternating her cooking courses from each place. Her other books for Kyle Cathie include 'Patricia Wells: At Home in Provence, Trattoria' and 'The Paris Cookbook'. www.patriciawells.com --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.