Paris Bistro Cooking “Paris Bistro Cooking is one of those rare books on food and its lore that transports the reader and sates the appetite at the same time.” --Roland Foster Miller, The New York Times “Linda Dannenberg has created a lovely testimony to the charm of bistros in Paris Bistro Cooking.” --Chicago Sun-Times “Paris Bistro Cooking promises a lot, and delivers it.” --Nancy Harmon Jenkins, The New York Times The warmth, conviviality, soul-satisfying food, and enduring traditions of the classic French bistro inspire every page of Paris Bistro Cooking. With 150 full-color photographs shot on location by photographer Guy Bouchet, more than 100 authentic recipes, and a narrative text that reveals the unique stories of 19 classic bistros, Linda Dannenberg’s Paris Bistro Cooking reveals the heart and soul of the Paris bistro experience. The carefully tested recipes, including well-loved classics such as wine-rich boeuf bourguignon, a lusty cassoulet, and a surprisingly simple praline and cream pear tart, come straight from the bistro chefs. Paris Bistro Cooking was many years in the making. The idea was conceived during an extended stay in Paris in the 1980's, then simmered for a decade or so before finally becoming a reality. Before choosing the final 19, Dannenberg dined at over 100 bistros, taking notes and gathering recipes as she went. The actual production of the book, which features a variety of bistros classified in the categories of classiques, régionals--cuisine from the provinces, de luxe, and “neo”--newly created in the old style, and de nuit--nighttime spots, took two years. Richly anecdotal, Paris Bistro Cooking presents tales of how the Giacometti brothers illustrated their works-in-progress on the paper mats of Le Restaurant Bleu; of the "smoking dogs" that once entertained diners at the late-night haunt, Au Chien Qui Fume; of the Allied aviators once sheltered in the wine cellar of Le Vieux Bistro while German officers toasted each other upstairs at the zinc bar; and of how Robert De Niro fattened up for his role as Jake La Motta in the film, “Raging Bull.” Paris Bistro Cooking is both an homage to a beloved city, and a celebration of the special, joyous experience that is bistro dining. |
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