The Perfect Meal: In Search of the Lost Tastes of France

Description

Can a single meal capture the soul of France? In The Perfect Meal, John Baxter — the Australian writer who has lived in Paris for more than twenty years — embarks on a delicious quest: to rediscover the lost tastes of France.

Part grand tour of France, part history of French cuisine, this irresistible journey takes readers from Paris to Provence in search of dishes and flavors disappearing from the modern table. Baxter hunts down the controversial ortolan, the authentic bouillabaisse of Marseille, old-fashioned foie gras, and the fading rituals of the French feast — meeting the farmers, chefs, and traditionalists keeping them alive.

Along the way, he serves up generous portions of history, memoir, and wit, reminding us that French cooking is not just about food but about pleasure, memory, and the art of living well. Charming, erudite, and mouthwatering — a love letter to a cuisine worth savoring, one lost taste at a time.

Can a single meal capture the soul of France? In The Perfect Meal, John Baxter — the Australian writer who has lived in Paris for more than twenty years and charmed readers with Immoveable Feast and The Most Beautiful Walk in the World — embarks on a delicious quest: to rediscover the lost tastes of France.

Part grand tour of France, part history of French cuisine, this irresistible journey takes readers from Paris to Provence in search of dishes and flavors disappearing from the modern table. Baxter hunts down the controversial ortolan, the authentic bouillabaisse of Marseille, old-fashioned foie gras, and the fading rituals of the French feast — meeting the farmers, chefs, and traditionalists keeping them alive.

Along the way, he serves up generous portions of history, memoir, and wit, reminding us that French cooking is not just about food but about pleasure, memory, and the art of living well.

Charming, erudite, and mouthwatering, The Perfect Meal is the perfect read for foodies and Francophiles alike — a love letter to a cuisine worth savoring, one lost taste at a time.