A wonderful addition to your bookshelf

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	• The Country Cooking of France Anne Willan Chronicle Books, 2007 - 392 pages average customer review:based on 8 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A wonderful addition to your bookshelf

The Country Cooking of France is a very, very helpful cookbook by a seasoned writer and instructor.

I have 3 other books by Ann Willan,and have picked up many techniques, and learned to appreciate French cooking from her lessons in these books.

This book might at first seem, with it's fresh, glamorous photographs, superior to the author's earlier books, which lack the lush photography, however photography isn't everything. Her precise organization, and terse instructions are just as clear as in previous recipes in the earlier books. The photos, (and there could be several times more), are gravy, a rich gravy to savor, especially if you try to match the photograph's appearance with the end result of your cooking of the pictured dish.

I won't go into the individual recipes, as I have not tasted how these recipes "'should" ideally taste to a picky native French diner. I do not need to cook from this newest book by Ms. Willan to know that she will continue to give recipes for authentic and tasty French Country Food-her word is good enough for thousands of others who enjoy her books, and I've certainly cooked quite a few dishes from her previous books to agree.

Now, reading the earlier three books-two La Varenne cookbooks, and Cook it Right can be helpful but not required- these offer a depth of background on cooking that I find useful as a precursor to some of the recipes. Depending on your experience with French cooking, you may find one or more helpful as solid background marerial.

Ms. Willan contines to raise the bar for truly instructive cookbooks. While Damien Pignolet in "French", his beautiful cookbook, is more involved in his instructions, Willan certainly gets the message across clearly.

This cookbook, with it's unique "new" Country recipes, is a must add to a serious French cook's bookshelves.

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CHEF RAY

A WONDERFUL ADDITION TO MY COOK BOOK COLLECTION. COUNTRY RECIPES THAT I CAN'T WAIT TO TREAT MYSELF AND FRIENDS TO. THANKS AGAIN ANNE WILLAN FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION IN INFORMING THE CULINARY WORLD ON REGIONAL FAMILY/COUNTRY COOKING OF FRANCE.

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Excellent preparation, fine execution!

Make no mistake about the title, "Country" implies neither lack of sophistication, nor compromise on quality of recipe. That said, this book provides a broad spectrum of French cuisine, which makes use of everyday ingredients, prepared in a manner which does not require a mastery of culinary skills. Use of French terminology and the French language itself, is done with purpose and not over-emphasized, nor confusing. Every aspect of a French meal, in terms of courses, dishes and ingredient types, (minus wine) are covered. Dedicated chapters for soups, breads, desserts, various vegetables, "innards & extremeties," frogs and snails, and sauces are all presented in the same descriptive narritive and colorful photography. In addition to the beautiful photography and well written instructions on preparation and execution, there is also a glossary of terms, techniques, ingredients and (basic) recipes, and, scattered throughout the various chapters, vignettes on people, places, and ingredients associated with French cuisine.

If one is to find fault with this book, it is on quantity of photographs. Without actually counting, there are about eight to ten recipes for every, actual, photo of a finished dish. This does not diminish the desire to attempt these delicious dishes, rather it does limit those who wish to make a visual connection with a dish, prior to attempting its replication. Otherwise, recipes are cross-referenced, and the index is well organized.

Technically, this book is a beautifully crafted work of graphic artistry. From the lace-cut dust jacket to the the font, to the country pantry motif, this book is executed well and presented exquisitely, which makes it a great addition to a personal library, and a very fine gift item.

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