French Lessons: Adventures with Knife, Fork, and Corkscrew
French Lessons: Adventures with Knife, Fork, and Corkscrew by Peter Mayle is a delightful exploration of France’s rich culinary landscape, published by Knopf on May 8, 2001. This 240-page book invites readers to join Mayle as he travels beyond his adopted Provence, discovering the diverse gastronomic pleasures found throughout the country. Through visits to quaint restaurants, bustling markets, and renowned vineyards, Mayle shares his experiences with food and drink, highlighting the cultural significance of dining in France.
Readers will find a vivid portrayal of various culinary events and traditions, including the Foire aux Escargots and the Marathon du Medoc, where wine tasting is part of the race. The narrative also covers memorable meals, such as bouillabaisse on the Côte d’Azur and the search for the perfect chicken in Bourg-en-Bresse. Along the way, Mayle discusses unique cheeses, the art of the omelette, and the importance of the Michelin Guide, providing insights into the social life and customs surrounding French gastronomy.
Official synopsis Publisher
From Peter Mayle, a joyous exploration and celebration of the infinite gastronomic pleasures of France.
Ranging far from his adopted Provence, Mayle now travels to every corner of the country, armed with knife, fork, and corkscrew. He takes us to tiny, out-of-the-way restaurants, starred Michelin wonders, local village markets, annual festivals, and blessed vineyards.
We visit the Foire aux Escargots at Martigny-les-Bains a whole weekend devoted to the lowly but revered snail. We observe the Marathon du Medoc, where runners passing through the great vineyards of Bordeaux refresh themselves en route with tastings of red wine (including Chateau Lafite-Rothschild!). There is a memorable bouillabaisse in a beachside restaurant on the Cute d’Azur. And we go on a search for the perfect chicken that takes us to a fair in Bourg-en-Bresse.
There is a Catholic mass in the village of Ri-cherenches, a sacred event at which thanks are given for the aromatic, mysterious, and breathtakingly expensive black truffle. We learn which is the most pungent cheese in France (it’s in Normandy), witness a debate on the secret of the perfect omelette, and pick up a few luscious recipes along the way. There is even an appreciation and celebration of an essential tool for any serious food-lover in France, the Michelin Guide.
“Here we have all the glory and pleasure of the French table in the most satisfying book yet from the toujours delightfully entertaining”
–Peter Mayle.
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