The Sweet Life in Paris

Delicious Adventures in the World's Most Glorious - and Perplexing - City

By: David Lebovitz

Narrated by: David Drummond

Like so many others, David Lebovitz dreamed about living in Paris ever since he first visited the city in the 1980s. Finally, after a nearly two-decade career as a pastry chef and cookbook author, he moved to Paris to start a new life. Having crammed all his worldly belongings into three suitcases, he arrived, hopes high, at his new apartment in the lively Bastille neighborhood. But he soon discovered it's a different world en France.

From learning the ironclad rules of social conduct to the mysteries of men's footwear, from shopkeepers who work so hard not to sell you anything to the etiquette of working the right way around the cheese plate, here is David's story of how he came to fall in love with - and even understand - this glorious, yet sometimes maddening, city.

When did he realize he had morphed into un vrai Parisien? It might have been when he found himself considering a purchase of men's dress socks with cartoon characters on them. Or perhaps the time he went to a bank with 135 euros in hand to make a 134-euro payment, was told the bank had no change that day, and thought it was completely normal. Or when he found himself dressing up to take out the garbage because he had come to accept that, in Paris, appearances and image mean everything.

The more than 50 original recipes, for dishes both savory and sweet, such as Pork Loin with Brown Sugar-Bourbon Glaze, Braised Turkey in Beaujolais Nouveau with Prunes, Bacon and Bleu Cheese Cake, Chocolate-Coconut Marshmallows, Chocolate Spice Bread, Lemon-Glazed Madeleines, and Mocha–Crème Fraîche Cake, will have listeners running to the kitchen once they stop laughing. The Sweet Life in Paris is a deliciously funny, offbeat, and irreverent look at the city of lights, cheese, chocolate, and other confections.

©2009 David Lebovitz (P)2012 Tantor

Critic reviews

"David Lebovitz is the greatest thing to happen to dessert since the spoon, but this time he shows that beyond his artful nose and flawless taste, he also has a keen reporter's eye." (Mort Rosenblum, author of The Secret Life of the Seine)

This narrator.....

Giving this 3 stars bc the book is ok, but good Lord whoever chose the narrator was dead wrong. This guy needs to narrate instruction manuals. It's too bad

Ready to move to Paris!

Book was great. Informative, interesting, and clever. Narration wasn't my favorite, but wasn't horrible, either. Great book to read if you're thinking about moving to or even visiting Paris.

Very good

So funny. I really liked the stories of live in Paris. Thank you for sharing.

Loved the book…not the narrator

Oh why didn’t David L read his own book…he’s a delight! Lovely story and inspires me right into the kitchen…or on a flight to Paris!

I Want to live in Paris

I have been in love with the French language since high school and continued with language classes in college. Is it any wonder I have been in love with Paris for the fashions, food, culture, art, and history. This book had me laughing and smiling and I could hardly wait to hear more. I have been to Paris three times and have fantasizes about living there someday. This account of living in Paris rang true with brilliant examples from the author 's life. Each chapter told a different aspect of living in Paris, while at the same time worked in sync with references from a previous chapter. I loved this audio book.