When a journalist trained in Italian cooking decides to venture into the world of French cuisine, everything changes for a family of four. Bill Buford is a talented writer and lives a comfortable life with his wife and twin sons in their beautiful apartment in New York City. He's had great success with his journey of learning the secrets of Italian cuisine and publishing his best-selling book, Heat, yet there is still something Buford wants to understand: French cooking. He decides to shadow French chef Michel Richard in Washington DC to begin learning more about this elusive cooking style. Quickly, Buford realizes that shadowing one man will not be enough and he must go to school in the country of France to truly learn the art of their astounding cuisine. Relocating his family to live in the French countryside, Buford takes us with him on his long and fascinating journey to becoming an expert in French cooking.
Though this book is classified as nonfiction, it reads very much like a novel. The author's writing style is interesting and immersive; he truly knows how to hold a reader's attention. One thing I loved about this book was the fact that the author did not just focus on the food of France but also on the culture and customs. I love learning about different cultures and found myself enjoying all the passages where the author talks about his experience settling in a new country and learning the differences between American and French habits. Hilarious passages abound in this book and Buford does not shy away from describing some of his failed attempts at tackling both the food and language of France. It's important to note that this book will not teach the reader how to make French cuisine at home but through the author's description of the cooking process, the reader gains respect for and more understanding of the cuisine. I found myself wishing I could try some of the amazing foods he describes in each chapter. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about France or who enjoy novels but want to branch out and try some nonfiction.
~Abigail C.
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