First published in 1932, "Je sais cuisiner" has been a best-seller for three generations. It is a household must-have, and a well-thumbed copy can be found in kitchens throughout France. Its author, Ginette Mathiot, was the queen of French domestic cooking. During her long career she published more than 30 recipe books, and "Je sais cuisiner" is her magnum opus. It is now available for the first time in English as "I Know How to Cook". With more than 1,200 recipes for every occasion, "I Know How to Cook" is an authoritative compendium of every classic French dish, from croque monsieur to cassoulet. Clear, practical and comprehensive, it is an essential guide to the best home cooking in the world: no cuisine is better than French at bringing the very best out of ingredients to create simple, comforting and delicious dishes. The recipes have been carefully updated to suit modern readers and their kitchens, while preserving the integrity of the original book and the authenticity of the recipes. The great reputation of "Je sais cuisiner" has been built over three generations by the fact that it is a genuine cookbook: each recipe has been cooked many times, and because it is used by domestic cooks rather than chefs, "I Know How to Cook" reveals how easy French cooking really is.
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'The myriad recipes are easy to follow and cater for complete novices in the kitchen (think 'how to prepare a lettuce') to those aiming for something a little more out of the ordinary such as sauteed frog's legs. - Elegantly presented with practical advice and useful features such as a list of recipes by chapter, this is a truly comprehensive encyclopedia of home cookery.' Rebecca Vince, France, November 2009 'its beautiful and easy to follow design makes it fit for the coffee and kitchen table alike.' Chef Suzanne Pirret, Men's Health, December 2009 'It was the great layout and fun illustrations that attracted me to this charming book, but after a flick through and a quick read I decided it is a household must-have. ... this clear, practical, comprehensive and updated guide the best French home cooking is an authoritative compendium of every classic French dish, and proves how easy and accessible they can be.' David Herbert, Food Editor, Easy Living, November 2009 ' - admirably comprehensive and clear - beautifully illustrated, too. ' Nick Curtis, Evening Standard, 19 November 2009 'more French cooking than it's reasonable to know!' Heat, November 2009 'clearly organized - comprehensively covers French home-cooking, as well as being playfully illustrated. A glorious book for every Mademoiselle - or Monsieur.' Jamie (Jamie Oliver magazine), December 2009
About the Author
Ginette Mathiot (1907-1998), Officier de la Legion d'Honneur, taught three generations how to cook in France and is the ultimate authority on French home cooking. She wrote more than 30 best-selling cookbooks, covering all subjects in French cuisine. Je sais cuisiner was her definitive, most comprehensive work, which brings together recipes for every classic French dish.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 35 people found the following review helpful
By Topsy
Format:Hardcover
At last in English! I have a battered copy of the French version which I worked my way through while living in Paris a few years ago. The English version is much prettier, than the rigorous, image-free, French original. Some of the recipes are very French, including several for snails and frogs legs, but most of them are quite simple and they have been through almost 80 years of testing - the book was first published in 1932. This is not a here today, gone tomorrow TV tie-in, but something that will be on your shelf for years to come. From the English edition I have tried making madeleines, easy and instantly devoured by the children (so no time for Proustian reflection), and the raspberry sorbet, very easy and a talking point at a recent dinner party. Highly recommended.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Since arriving here in France nearly four years ago, with my French wife, I have personally been looking for an English translation of this the bible of traditional French Home Cooking. Well this is it and one can immediately see and understand why it has been in constant print since it was first published in 1932 and is still a best seller here in France and sits proudly in most French homes.
The book is very well laid out in it's various recipe sections with further sections on cooking fundamentals, menus by celebrated chefs, some interesting general kitchen advice and an easy to understand and comprehensive index.
This book is now making the visits to the traditional French farm markets, butchers, traditional bakers and fishmongers all the more interesting as one sources the various ingredients which in France, at least thank goodness, is still done by season and local availability. Personally I like the recipe sections on Soup and Ices whilst there is plenty here to please and satisfy all other tastes of traditional French home cooking.
The book is very well laid out in it's various recipe sections with further sections on cooking fundamentals, menus by celebrated chefs, some interesting general kitchen advice and an easy to understand and comprehensive index.
This book is now making the visits to the traditional French farm markets, butchers, traditional bakers and fishmongers all the more interesting as one sources the various ingredients which in France, at least thank goodness, is still done by season and local availability. Personally I like the recipe sections on Soup and Ices whilst there is plenty here to please and satisfy all other tastes of traditional French home cooking.
48 of 51 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is to French cooking, what 'Silver Spoon' is to Italian, '1080 Recipes' is to Spanish and the recent 'Vefa's Kitchen' is to Greek. Which is to say, it's published by Phaidon, it's huge and it has many many recipes that are both authentic and usually very easy to make at home too. Not to mention, delicious.
The food is often such that you could not get at a restaurant, but would be served in many French homes if you went to stay for a few weeks. At least, that's the impression it gives... (and since i idealize the french I'm happy to go along with it.) The truth is, Ginette Mathiot was an exceptional cook with great flair and knowledge of French Home Cooking, and this is her masterpiece, first published in the 1930s I think.
Clotilde Dusoulier (of her blog/cookbook 'Chocolate and Zucchini' fame) has adapted the current edition, and it is absolutely, gobsmackingly, fantastically great. [any book that has a recipe called 'silly biscuits' is perfect by me].
Here's an example of what is so charming about this book: there's a recipe for crunchy Chestnut biscuits called 'Casse-museau'. Casse museau, we are told, translates as 'muzzle-breakers'. I love that kind of useless fun information. I like food with funny names.
The book is organized into the following chapters:
Sauces and Basic recipes, Hors-D'oeuvres, Milk eggs and cheese, soup, fish, meat, poultry, game, vegetables and salads, pulses rice and pasta, fruit, milk and egg puddings, ices,cakes and pastries, sweets preserves drinks.
If I'm not mistaken that pretty much covers everything you could desire. The sort of recipes you might expect are all here, like Beouf Bourguinon. But there are some surprises too... like... Melon Marmalade. I really want to try Melon Marmalade.
The chapters that stand out for me so far are the 'Milk eggs and cheese' (you could basically eat eggs a different way each day for months following this book) and the vegetables and salads section.
The food is often such that you could not get at a restaurant, but would be served in many French homes if you went to stay for a few weeks. At least, that's the impression it gives... (and since i idealize the french I'm happy to go along with it.) The truth is, Ginette Mathiot was an exceptional cook with great flair and knowledge of French Home Cooking, and this is her masterpiece, first published in the 1930s I think.
Clotilde Dusoulier (of her blog/cookbook 'Chocolate and Zucchini' fame) has adapted the current edition, and it is absolutely, gobsmackingly, fantastically great. [any book that has a recipe called 'silly biscuits' is perfect by me].
Here's an example of what is so charming about this book: there's a recipe for crunchy Chestnut biscuits called 'Casse-museau'. Casse museau, we are told, translates as 'muzzle-breakers'. I love that kind of useless fun information. I like food with funny names.
The book is organized into the following chapters:
Sauces and Basic recipes, Hors-D'oeuvres, Milk eggs and cheese, soup, fish, meat, poultry, game, vegetables and salads, pulses rice and pasta, fruit, milk and egg puddings, ices,cakes and pastries, sweets preserves drinks.
If I'm not mistaken that pretty much covers everything you could desire. The sort of recipes you might expect are all here, like Beouf Bourguinon. But there are some surprises too... like... Melon Marmalade. I really want to try Melon Marmalade.
The chapters that stand out for me so far are the 'Milk eggs and cheese' (you could basically eat eggs a different way each day for months following this book) and the vegetables and salads section.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
You certainly do..
I would have to recommend this to everyone in the whole world....probably because the recipes like Roast Woodcocks take me back to a lovely time in my childhood when food was... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr. M. E. Lock
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Cookbook on French Cuisine
This book is very good and in detail when it comes to french cuisine.
Very good and easy to follow both for amateurs and for professionals.
Very good and easy to follow both for amateurs and for professionals.
Published 4 months ago by Mark Grech
4.0 out of 5 stars
Real French cooking primer
And it is in English, so no more rummaging for the dictionary. The illustrations are not up to the original french edition photographs but if you wish to know how to cook a duck's... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mr. D. Greenwood
1.0 out of 5 stars
Such anticipation...to be sadly disappointed
I bought this when it first came out, so excited about it's arrival. However, tonight I logged on to see if I could sell it here second hand. If you're interested let me know.. Read more
Published 12 months ago by A. Rehlinger
5.0 out of 5 stars
Encyclopaedic
Phaidon seem to have a hit a niche recently by translating or creating foreign cookery books. This is the best selling French cookbook translated with almost 100 pages. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Syriat
3.0 out of 5 stars
Oh my, had this and the French ed for like, 5 minutes, and already a...
I ordered this and the current edition of the French version 'Je sais cuisiner' on the same day not long ago. Read more
Published 19 months ago by magdalene42
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book
We have heard a lot about this book while in France and I must say if you like good cooking it is certaintly worth the money and great reading. Read more
Published on 6 Jan 2011 by AlanP
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mens Health Got It Spot On
Pondering on what to by my better half for Christmas an article in Mens Health caught my eye. The usual perfumes were proffered nothing took my fancy, but after reading about this... Read more
Published on 11 April 2010 by Mr. H. Clarke
4.0 out of 5 stars
Muscles needed !
I have used the French version for many many years,a thick A5 sized volume. This version is enormous and heavy (almost A4 size). Read more
Published on 18 Mar 2010 by W. J. Taylor
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book, French Classic dishes, lack of photos, boost of recepies!!
Great book, if your looking for all kinda recipes, but it doesnt offer you the "Cooking for dummies" element, but a lot of the recipes are easy, so don't worry, it has most of the... Read more
Published on 15 Feb 2010 by Marc Ingvorsen
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