Bistro Cooking (Paperback)

Patricia Wells' Trattoria: Simple and Robust Fare Inspired by the Small Family Restaurants of Italy by Patricia Wells 4.0 out of 5 stars (2)  £11.50

Patricia Wells at Home in Prov: Recipes Inspired by Her Farmhouse in France by Wells Patricia 4.5 out of 5 stars (4)

The Provence Cookbook by Patricia Wells £16.99

Ottolenghi: The Cookbook by Yotam Ottolenghi 4.8 out of 5 stars (45)  £16.00

Simple French Food by Richard Olney 4.0 out of 5 stars (6)  £9.74

› Explore similar items

Amazon.co.uk Review
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

Review
American food writer Wells has toured the length of her adopted country France collecting over 200 of her favourite dishes from bistros - those wonderful family restaurants where the food comes without frills or fuss, denoting a very special way of life. From hors d'oeuvres and seasonal vegetables to seafood and pastries, this no-frills book (if you're expecting glossy pictures - forget it) is peppered with regional tips, suggested menus and mouthwatering recipes from a country which really knows its cooking. Choose from Grilled Country Bread with Pesto and Smoked Trout or Braised Lamb with White Beans, rounded off with Pear Clafoutis or Golden Cream and Apple Tart. Thoroughly recommended for the serious food lover. (Kirkus UK)

Wells, a former New York Times food writer who now lives in Paris and Provence and writes on French food (The Food Lover's Guide to France, 1987) defines bistro food as that very simple, traditional French "home cooking" served in little neighborhood restaurants that "warm our souls with copious, hearty meals and good times among friends." As presented here, it's full-flavored, unpretentious fare that seems right for the times. (As Wells describes the informal service, many of us will find that we've been eating bistro style, if not bistro food, all along.) And in keeping with the hallmark generosity, Wells gives us a substantial collection - with, for example, countless potato gratins and fruit tarts and many ideas for rabbit, one of them a microwaved terrine with hazelnuts. Just reading her special versions of dishes as simple and satisfying as smoked herring with potato salad, salt cod gratin, and salt-cured duck with cabbage, we forgive her for calling an inordinate number of them her "favorites." (One suggestion, though: Isn't it time to ban the word "marry" from cookbooks? Wells resorts to this un-bistro-like term a good dozen times.) Anyway, she proves an excellent ambassador for this very appealing food. (Kirkus Reviews)

See all Product Description

Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover

Search inside this book:

7 Reviews 5 star:  (5) 4 star:  (2) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.7 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   4 of 4 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant French cookery book, 14 Jul 2003 By  "saitchy" - See all my reviews This book is quite hard to find, but well worth hunting down - one of the best French cookery books around. Clear reciopies for delicious dishes, Bistro cooking works well as home cooking. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   7 of 8 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars fabulous recipes, horrid book, 10 Mar 2005 By  Teresa Ewart (ireland) - See all my reviews this book is a classic - the recipes are superb, there are some really "wow" dishes that i use again and again... true - the writing, layout and trite little comments are horrid - but if you're a proper cook and not a browser it doesn't matter! Can't recommend it highly enough - great idea's for dinner parties and more informal gatherings. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   15 of 21 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Great recipes shame about the writing, 26 Jul 2001 By A Customer The style and presentation of this book are dreadful. Horribly cliched pictures, random menus dotted about and an obsession with Beaujolais a wine they only seem to serve to tourists . The writing is cloying and patronisingly American . It is like hearing a loud American voice in a quiet French town It is a shame it was not translated into English. Why buy it then?- well to give Mrs Wells credit the recipes are excellent and do indeed evoke cheap and cheerful French restaurant cooking very well indeed . I just wish she had had a better editor . Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review › See all 7 customer reviews...		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars Really excellent! Having tried to cook from some of the more traditional French cookery books over the years this book is really refreshing. Read more Published 2 days ago by Froxfield_Reviewer 4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read and great recipes A true taste of France right here in the Jungles of Borneo! Whenever I'm fed up of jungle fern and dried fish "blachan", I reach for this masterpiece to give me... Read more Published on 3 Jul 2000 5.0 out of 5 stars If you have room for only one cookbook, this is it! Bistro Cooking brings alive everything that is good about cooking. Fantastic recipes, that are rewarding to prepare, and a delight to eat. Read more Published on 1 April 2000 5.0 out of 5 stars This is my favourite cook book. This woman is a genius (food critic for the International Herald Tribune). The recipes are wonderful and easy to make. You'll love it. Published on 19 Jun 1999 Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews › See all 7 customer reviews...

Books fo passionate chef's: A list by T. W. Burton "tom_the_chef64"   My cookbook collection: A list by cb-cookbook "cb-cookbook"   Kitchen Essentials and some extras: A list by E. Bowler "photobubble" Create a Listmania! list

Search Listmania!

• Books > Food & Drink > National & International Cookery
• Books > Study Books > FE & College > Vocational > Hospitality & Catering
• Books > Study Books > FE & College > Vocational > Sport & Recreation

• 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.