A Kitchen in France

Starred review from September 1, 2014
In this warm and inviting collection, Thorisson, a French TV personality and author of Manger, a food blog devoted to French cooking, brings readers into the kitchen of her farmhouse in Médoc, which she shares with her five children, numerous dogs, and her husband, the photographer who provided the stunning photos that comprise nearly half of the book. Thorisson groups her offerings by season, providing starters, main courses, and desserts that utilize the best ingredients for the time of year. From spring’s onion tarts, artichoke soufflés, and Parisian sole to winter’s potato pie, garlic soup, and coq au vin, she provides something for every palate. Tuna rillettes, apricot panna cotta, and pork cheek ravioli with cèpes demonstrate the breadth of her skill. And while the appeal of this collection rests firmly on its recipes, the incredible photographs capture life in the French countryside. Sidebars on everything from dried grapevines and wine to garlic and visits the butcher add little details that transport the reader to this bucolic, idyllic world where Thorisson is the perfect host.

September 15, 2014
Lauded food blogger Thorisso having lived in Hong Kong and Paris, moved with her family to a farm in France's M'doc, where she began to explore the region's culinary traditions. No slave to received wisdom, Thorisson has tinkered with the area's outstanding seasonal meats, vegetables, and fruits to generate a very personal sort of cuisine, which she now shares with her devotees. As spring turns into summer, Thorisson exchanges fresh fava-bean soup for a broth of macaroni, green beans, basil, and garlic. Autumn squab pie gives way to winter's hearty roasted sausages. A unique method of preparing snails with ham and sausage transforms snails' usual presentation. Some recipes demand considerable kitchen skill, but her desserts in particular will intrigue many. Thorisson's photographer husband has contributed a wealth of color photos that display not only his wife's cooking talent but also celebrate the family's daily life amid M'doc's bounty.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)