In a French Kitchen

Tales and Traditions of Everyday Home Cooking in France

By: Susan Herrmann Loomis

Narrated by: Susan Herrmann Loomis

In a French Kitchen is a delightful celebration of French life and the cooks who turn even the simplest meals into an occasion.

Even before Susan Herrmann Loomis wrote her now-classic memoir, On Rue Tatin, Americans have been compelled by books about the French's ease with cooking. With In a French Kitchen, Loomis—an expat who long ago traded her American grocery store for a bustling French farmer's market—demystifies in lively prose the seemingly effortless je ne sais quoi behind a simple French meal.

One by one listeners are invited to meet the busy people of Louviers and the surrounding villages and towns of Loomis' adopted home, from runway-chic Edith, who has zero passion for cooking—but a love of food that inspires her to whip up an array of mouthwatering dishes—to Nathalie, who becomes misty-eyed as she talks about her mother's Breton cooking and then goes on to reproduce it. Through friends and neighbors like these, Loomis learns that delicious, even decadent meals don't have to be complicated.

Are French cooks better organized when planning and shopping? Do they have a greater ability to improvise with whatever they have on hand when unexpected guests arrive? The answer to both is yes. But they also have an innate understanding of food and cooking, are instinctively knowledgeable about seasonal produce, and understand what combination of simple ingredients will bring out the best of their gardens or local markets.

Thankfully for American listeners, In a French Kitchen shares the everyday French tips, secrets, and 85 recipes that allow them to turn every meal into a sumptuous occasion.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2015 Susan Herrmann Loomis (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Introduction to (Norman) French Food Culture

Topic by topic, the author discusses particular aspects of French cuisine, using stories about her neighbors in Normandy. Her chapters make the people and countryside come alive, and the stories explain the background of why, what, and when the French eat. There are recipes at the end of each chapter, and the final chapters discuss what you will need to keep on hand in your pantry, and sample menus for each month of the year.

Good info but whiny narrator

I can't stand the narrator's voice, this would have been one of those where it would have been better to have another reader. The author is too nasal and whiny for me but I did appreciate the recipes and information.

Too many recipes for an audiobook!

When Susan is telling her tales of the French kitchen, it's a wonderful book. However, there are so many recipes that it doesn't translate to audio well. That is unless you like listening to cookbooks.

Did not want to listen to a cookbook

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Someone who enjoys listening to several hours of recipes.

What was most disappointing about Susan Herrmann Loomis’s story?

Her story was interesting and well written the problem was that about half the book is recipes. It gets very monotonous listening to someone read recipe after recipe. Having said that the recipes all sounded very tasty

What does Susan Herrmann Loomis bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

It was a nice touch having the author narrate the book. There is a certain intimacy to that.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

When the story is about France, her observations about the French, their food, and cooking, it is very enjoyable.

Any additional comments?

I would have enjoyed the book more if I had read it. (And also I would have had the recipes on hand.) The format of this book does not translate well to audio.