200 recipes inspired by the small family restaurants of France celebrate generous, full-flavoured cooking. Bistro is robust soups and rustic salads, wine-scented stews, bubbling gratins and desserts from grandmother's kitchen. It is earthy, not fussy; easy, not painstaking. And Bistro Cooking presents no-nonsense, inexpensive, soul-satisfying cuisine inspired by the neighborhood restaurants of France. For all occasions, Patricia Wells' "Bistro Cooking" provides the kind of uncomplicated good food that cooks everywhere enjoy ...
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200 recipes inspired by the small family restaurants of France celebrate generous, full-flavoured cooking. Bistro is robust soups and rustic salads, wine-scented stews, bubbling gratins and desserts from grandmother's kitchen. It is earthy, not fussy; easy, not painstaking. And Bistro Cooking presents no-nonsense, inexpensive, soul-satisfying cuisine inspired by the neighborhood restaurants of France. For all occasions, Patricia Wells' "Bistro Cooking" provides the kind of uncomplicated good food that cooks everywhere enjoy. From Leek, Potato and Bacon Soup to Madame Francoise Potel's Apple Tart, each recipe has been prepared, tested and adapted by an acclaimed French food authority. Bistro Cooking captures the true flavour of the French palette. Full of warmth and joie de vivre, it is this cuisine that makes bistro a way of life.
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Add this copy of Bistro Cooking to cart. $16.23, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 1989 by Workman Publishing.
Patricia Wells has done us a great service by compiling recipes from French bistros where she has eaten, often repeatedly, to report only recipes that are directly from the bistro owners, and are truly delicious. She also makes excellent wine suggestions to pair with the recipes. In my opinion, this clearly written book admirably describes simple French food at its best. A book that should be welcome to cooks of a wide range of culinary skills; beginners to professionals. Recommended.
elizabeth w
Jan 27, 2022
Great recipes
I will definitely use the recipes in this book to cook up great meals.
Elliot R
Nov 24, 2011
Not impressed
Too many hard to find ingredients unless you live in one of the top ten metro areas. Also, I was dissapointed that so many recipes were impractical for the everyday cook.
steven
Jun 16, 2011
The book arrived promptly and in good condition. The book itself is excellent.
SweettheaCakes
Mar 25, 2009
a good buy
?Bistro Cooking? was inspired by the small family restaurants of France, and is a collection of about 200 recipes, with considerable side commentary about french cooking history and traditional techniques, with the occasional nostalgic photo.
I was fortunate to do my apprenticeship with the Executive Chef of the Hilton Hotels, Albert Schnell. French cuisine is very important to Albert, as he is originally from Alsace, a small, densely-populated province of France that borders Switzerland and Germany, and is noted for its convivial, generous fare. Obviously French cuisine is important to Albert; his passion for this book recommended it to me.
When I went to France a couple summers ago, I was surprised to find much of the food to be bland, more focussed on meat and cheese than I expected. I should have known that - this book, very french and very true to french cooking, reflects those qualities, with most of the recipes built around meat, cheese, and sauces (I am looking at a salad in the book right now that includes ham, walnuts, and duck gizzards!)
I have tried quite a few of these recipes, and still use this cookbook. My favorite so far is the ?Bouillabaisse de Poulet Chez Tante Paulette?, a chicken stew with fennel and saffron, that is absolutely delicious. Typically this recipe explains who Tante Paulette is, talks about her little bistro in Lyon, and complimentary serving suggestions, as well as an ingredient list and brief, uncomplicated instructions. This dish is very tasty, especially with a nice white wine yum!
This book is a good buy, an interesting read, a solid tool in the kitchen, and a delightful source of excellent French comfort food. Recommended.
