Lunch in Paris

A Love Story, with Recipes

By: Elizabeth Bard

Narrated by: Ann Marie Lee

Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

In Paris for a weekend visit, Elizabeth Bard sat down to lunch with a handsome Frenchman - and never went home again.

Was it love at first sight? Or was it the way her knife slid effortlessly through her pavé au poivre, the steak's pink juices puddling into the buttery pepper sauce? Lunch in Paris is a memoir about a young American woman caught up in two passionate love affairs - one with her new beau, Gwendal, the other with French cuisine.

Packing her bags for a new life in the world's most romantic city, Elizabeth is plunged into a world of bustling open-air markets, hipster bistros, and size 2 femmes fatales. She learns to gut her first fish (with a little help from Jane Austen), soothes pangs of homesickness (with the rise of a chocolate soufflé), and develops a crush on her local butcher (who bears a striking resemblance to Matt Dillon). Elizabeth finds that the deeper she immerses herself in the world of French cuisine, the more Paris itself begins to translate. French culture, she discovers, is not unlike a well-ripened cheese: there may be a crusty exterior, until you cut through to the melting, piquant heart.

Peppered with mouth-watering recipes for summer ratatouille, swordfish tartare, and molten chocolate cakes, Lunch in Paris is a story of falling in love, redefining success, and discovering what it truly means to be at home.

In the delicious tradition of memoirs like A Year in Provence and Under the Tuscan Sun, this book is the perfect treat for anyone who has dreamed that lunch in Paris could change their life.

©2012 Elizabeth Bard (P)2012 Tantor

Critic reviews

"She pleasantly details her joys and obstacles . . . provides poignant revelations about cultural differences. . . . A cozy, touching story." ( Kirkus)

A lovely, descriptive, food memoir!

I listened to this food memoir, Lunch In Paris by Elizabeth Bard, on audiobook. I really enjoyed it! It's her story of visiting Paris and having lunch with a Frenchman, and starting a lifelong romance with him and their adventures in Paris. She tells the story through food, French food. She recounts that first lunch date they had together, meals they prepared and shared, as well as, countless meals with family and friends. Through the stories of these meals, she also tells how their romance began, and blossomed into a relationship, and a marriage. She recalls joys and sorrows they had along with their family and friends. The charming and often humorous book was beautifully descriptive and painted a lovely picture of their life in Paris. I also liked the narrator for the audiobook, Ann Marie Lee, who added a voice and character to the story.

Okay for a first book

The sequel to Lunch in Paris is a delight. This is about a child playing house. The follow up book about an interesting woman's interesting life.

Glad I listened to Picnic in Provance 1st.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes I would but I prefer the author narrating her book. She has a great voice. I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I would have loved to live this life. I like the romance wasn't quite as fast as the title implies.

What other book might you compare Lunch in Paris to and why?

As this is a memoir, yes there was one about the girl who was hung up on the butcher. Not exactly a comparison.

What does Ann Marie Lee bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She is a good and very professional narrator but I preferred the author as narrator.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

no

Any additional comments?

If you are a mental traveler as I am, and you enjoy the idea of adjusting to life in France you might enjoy this book. I did.

Very fun, and sweet.

Will be sending the paper copy to my best friend. very light, loving, and refreshing.

A much needed break from the seriousness that we often get sucked into mentally.

Lunch in Paris? I'll wait until dinner...

Would you try another book from Elizabeth Bard and/or Ann Marie Lee?

This book is not terrible, along the same lines as Eat, Pray, Love, without the divorce drama. Not a lot happens (at least up to Chapter 8), but it is a sweet story, kind of like reading a chick flick. The problem I had was the narrator. It was like listening to a kindergarten teacher reading your journal to her class. I think I will read this the old fashioned way instead.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Didn't make it to the end.

Would you be willing to try another one of Ann Marie Lee’s performances?

Probably not.

Delightful

A nice memoir of an American in Paris. A story of love, family, and food. I probably learned more about modern French social mores and culture from this book than many I have read.

An Afternoon in Paris

Any additional comments?

Lunch in Paris is a lovely stroll through Paris with markets, food and a little romance. A nice afternoon read.

Pleasant

Interesting, sweet story of falling in love and loving France. This is an enjoyable listen. I found her second book even better.

One of My New Favorites!

I would highly recommend! Definitely my kind of book! Excellent writing, excellent story, excellent book!! Perfect for the souls with unquenchable wanderlust. Also the narrator's accent is great!

ok to pass the time

I found this book to be a bit boring, but should appeal to a reader in her 20s. I have a feeling, however, that had a better narrator been chosen, the book might have seemed less naive/perky (I don't like perky in an audiobook). I'd skip this one.