Savoring France: Recipes and Reflections on French Cooking

What really grabbed me at first glance was the vivid colors and attention to the details in the numerous photographs in this book. Ms. Brennan confided to me recently in a chatroom interview at the French cuisine site that she gained about ten pounds while testing the recipes for the book. The recipes are all very traditional dishes you'd find in homes and bistros all over France and are simple enough for a confident and even a new cook to recreate.Along with the delicious, hearty French recipes are little anecdotes sprinkled throughout that shed light on useful things like using creme fraiche. A perfect gift for a francophile, cook or someone who loves good classic cuisine without hours of preparation involved. The book is so vibrant and lovely you'll want to leave it on the coffee table to make your guests salivate while they wait for dinner.

This is quite possibly the best cookbook I have ever read! Not only does it have beautiful pictures and wonderful, EASY, delicious recipes, but it has delightful information on the customs, countryside, and people of France. It's a cookbook I actually USE all the time!