Product Description

A joyous exploration and celebration of the infinite gastronomic pleasures of France.

Ranging far from his adopted Provence, Peter Mayle now travels to every corner of the country, armed with knife, fork, and corkscrew. He takes us to tiny, out-of-the-way restaurants, three-star Michelin wonders, local village markets, annual festivals, and blessed vineyards. We visit the Foire aux Escargots at Matigny-les-Bains–a whole weekend devoted to the lowly but revered snail. We observe the Medoc Marathon, where runners refresh themselves enroute with tastings of red wine (including Chateau Lafite-Rothschild!). There is bouillabaisse in a beachside restaurant in St. Tropez. A search for the perfect chicken that takes us to a fair in Bourg-en-Bresse. There is even a Catholic mass in the village of Richerenches, a sacred event at which thanks is given for the aromatic, mysterious, and breathtakingly expensive black truffle. We learn which is the most pungent cheese in France (it’s in Normandy), witness a debate on the secret of the perfect omelet, and pick up a few luscious recipes along the way.

All the glory and pleasure on the French table in the most satisfying audiobook yet from the toujours delightfully entertaining Peter Mayle.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #856734 in Books
• Published on: 2001-05-08
• Released on: 2001-05-08
• Formats: Audiobook, Unabridged
• Original language: English
• Binding: Audio CD

From Amazon.co.uk
Peter Mayle has done it again--but differently. Travelling this time beyond his adopted Provence throughout France, the food and travel writer has produced French Lessons, a celebration of many of that country's gastronomic joys. Whether pursuing La Foire de Fromages, the annual cheese fair at Livarot; a Burgundian marathon offering runners Médoc refreshment; or a village truffle mass that concludes with a heady dégustation of the newly blessed tuber, Mayle takes his readers in hand and shows all. Wide-eyed yet knowing, ever affable but with a touch of mischief, he's an ideal companion, the best possible narrator of his lively food adventures.

Author of the bestselling A Year in Provence, Mayle's gastronomic baptism occurs when, as a 19-year-old, he dines for the first time in France. "At the first mouthful of French bread and French butter," he writes, "my taste buds, dormant until then, went into spasm." The paroxysm leads to serious food-and-wine perambulations--and, finally, to chapters including "The Thigh-Taster of Vitel" (a frog-eating fete); "Slow Food" (snail love in Martigny les Bains) and "The Guided Stomach" (an investigation of the Michelin Guide restaurant inspection), among others. Readers are also present for a debate on the secret of the perfect omelette; a search for the best possible chicken in Bourg-en-Bresse; and a visit to a St. Tropez restaurant notable for its scantily clad habitués. Those familiar with Mayle's work, and those yet to discover it, are in for a treat. --Arthur Boehm

From Publishers Weekly
In this latest book, part travelogue, part guide to cuisine, Mayle leaves his beloved Provence behind and sets out to experience gastronomic pleasures available at food festivals and celebrations throughout France. The always curious and friendly Mayle befriends colorful locals at such events as a frog's-leg festival in Vitel, where "thigh tasting" is regarded as a reverent act. The best advice when eating escargots, he finds, is that one should eat them "through the nose, not through the eyes." By far the most fascinating and bizarre event is a Catholic mass in the village of Richerenches whose main purpose is giving thanks for the adored, rare and costly black truffle. Mayle's wry, colorful and playful prose effectively conveys just how seriously the French take their food. Simon Jones, who also gave a wonderful reading of Mayle's A Dog's Life, is a highly entertaining performer with a voice and energy reminiscent of John Cleese. Paired with Mayle's witty and unpretentious style, his reading makes listening to this book delicious and satisfying. Simultaneous release with the Knopf hardcover.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile
If "the education of the stomach is never complete," as bon vivant Peter Mayle contends, his travelogue of French festivals and gastronomic fêtes is a delightful lesson. Simon Jones performs Mayle's firsthand account with absolute assurance and skill. With a flawless accent, and perfect tone and pace, Jones is our fearless guide to some highly unusual but diverting events. He uses just the right sotto voce asides on wine-tasting spitting manners and delivers mouth-watering descriptions of local cheeses and cuisine minceur. The author could not ask for a better rendition, as Jones teases out the humor and farce while delivering Mayle's keen observations. Listeners will find themselves planning their own excursion. R.F.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Customer Reviews

French Lessons: Adventures with Knife, Fork, and Corkscrew
A joyous exploration & celebration of the infinite gastronomic pleasures of France. Ranging far from his adopted Provence, Peter Mayle now travels to every corner of the country, armed with knife, fork, & corkscrew. He takes us to tiny, out-of-the-way restaurants, three-star Michelin wonders, local village markets, annual festivals, & blessed vineyards. We visit the Foire aux Escargots at Martigny-les-Bains--a whole weekend devoted to the lowly but revered snail. We observe the Medoc Marathon, where runners refresh themselves en route with tastings of red wine (including Chateau Lafite-Rothschild!). There is bouill-abaisse in a beachside restaurant in St.-Tropez. A search for the perfect chicken that takes us to a fair in Bourg-en-Bresse. There is even a Catholic mass in the village of Richerenches, a sacred event at which thanks is given for the aromatic, mysterious, & breath-takingly expensive black truffle. We learn which is the most pungent cheese in France (it's in Normandy), witness a debate on the secret of the perfect omelet, & pick up a few luscious recipes along the way. All the glory & pleasure of the French table in the most satisfying book yet from the toujours delightfully entertaining Peter Mayle.

An informed and engaging guide to proper etiquette
French Lessons: Adventures With Knife, Fork, And Corkscrew by Francophile and culinary expert Peter Mayle is an informed and engaging guide to proper etiquette with respect to the French culinary culture. From what to wear, to instructions on gracefully wielding dining utensils, to the author's personal and anecdotal stories of gourmet delights, French Lessons is the next best thing to enjoying sumptuous French cuisine itself! Also highly recommended are Peter Mayle's previous books on French culture and country, A Year In Provence; Anything Considered; Chasing Cezanne; Toujours Provence; and Encore Provence.

Read Lightly with a Glass of Good Wine & Enjoy
Peter Mayle's lighthearted romp through some of the greatest gastronomic events occurring in modern-day France. Here's an enjoyable and easy read that one can complete in one transcontinental flight or a couple of evenings before bedtime. In his continuing style of astute British observation in France, which served him so well in "A Year In Provence", Mayle walks you through festivals devoted to frog legs, French wine, gastronomic running marathons, near-nude dining of the beautiful (and rich) people at the beach and finally a trip to the 'fat farm'. I must admit Mayle had me busting with laughter as he describes the female attendant's methods to cleanse his body after the mud bath. As a finale, Mayer provides a few elusive insights into the creation of the "Michelin Guide". That famous organization that over a hundred years has kept its workings out of the public eye so that they can provide near truth for their restaurant and hotel ratings.