- Hardcover: 304 pages
- Publisher: Ebury Press; illustrated edition edition (3 Sep 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0091891116
- ISBN-13: 978-0091891114
- Product Dimensions: 24.4 x 19.6 x 3.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 238,281 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
The life of a Michelin-starred chef is undeniably a stressful one, and no doubt many pause from time to time in the frenzy of the kitchen or the worry of the office to ask themselves if it's really all worth it. John Burton Race, who had clocked up two stars, had such a moment. He saw the business side of a highly successful restaurant taking over and himself losing contact with what had drawn him into cooking in the first place--food and its preparation. Following this epiphany (one might call it a naked-lunch moment, when, as William Burroughs remarked, you really see what's on the end of your fork) he determined to return to his roots, take a sabbatical and write a book about the pleasures of good, simple food. French Leave is the result. French because Race ambitiously decided that France was the best place to conduct his research and accordingly took his entire family (wife, six children and, eventually, Labrador puppy) with him. French leave is both a cookbook and a narrative of the we-survived-a-year-in-rural-France type so popular since that leathery old bellwether Peter Mayle first showed the way. The recipes are excellent--good, plain, traditional French eating, arranged seasonally, with classics such as Cassoulet, Confit of Duck and Daube de Boeuf featuring. There's practically nothing here that you won't find in books stretching all the way back to Elizabeth David and beyond, but it's very useful to have such a collection curated by a skilled and enthusiastic chef. The narrative parts of the book are somewhat mixed: when Race is talking to food producers and cooks of the Aude, his chosen region in the south-west of the country, he is fascinating and clearly enthralled. These are people with a profound love and respect for food, and Race is good at communicating this and demonstrating why quality is important. It's less easy to see why he chose to include so much about his family--quarrels, grumpy love-sick teenagers, school plays and so on--who probably won't thank him. And strangely, there's no mention whatsoever of the television crew, who must have been around quite a lot filming for the accompanying series. --Robin Davidson
Review
'With recipes such as truffled scrambled eggs, pears in honey and thyme and '3000 calories a smell' aligot, you'll pick up the book of the series for its beautiful photographs, but you'll read it for the infecious tales of family life in France', Red .'a gastronomic voyage. Besides musing on French and family life, this hardback is laced with classic French recipes', Time Out .'A delicious read...this book will help you bring a touch of France to your table', Heat .'It's like the Waltons in the Aude - one of those warm-feeling families that you want to be part of', France Magazine .'the must have cookery book', Good Book Guide
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
42 of 48 people found the following review helpful
Many congratulations to John Burton Race for writing this truly creative and inspiring book about his year in France. This is a real treasure for foodies and non-foodies alike as he settles himself and his family (including sulky teenagers) into a new way of life in South West France. What a wonderful combination of lifestyle and recipes - I almost felt as if I was there with him and his brood. Highly recommended.
22 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Not only an excellent recipe book but a fantastic insight into John and his family and the highs and lows of moving and settling into a new life. An excellent read for all and even my husband has read it and agrees how good this book is. Please can we have more!! I read this book on holiday and could not put it down.
1 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Far better as both a series and a book than Rick Steins` recent stab at the genre.
Two years earlier as well!
Two years earlier as well!
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