Weekend Cooking: Lunch in Paris
American Elizabeth Bard was living and working in London when she met Gwendal, a dashing young Frenchman, at an academic conference. They kept in touch through emails and met up again when Elizabeth had to visit Paris. They fell in love, Elizabeth moved to Paris and they eventually married. Elizabeth documents her transition into the French culture in her memoir, Lunch in Paris with love, honesty and food.
Lunch in Paris is such a charming book! I delighted in its pages and didn’t want to put it down. Living in another culture isn’t always easy, but Elizabeth approached it with a positive attitude that spoke of her love for her husband and French cuisine. Foodies will be thrilled to find that the recipes for most of the dishes mentioned in the book are included. There’s more to the story than food, though – Elizabeth is frank about the ups and downs of adjusting to a different culture and combining two cultures in a marriage.
Oh, how I could relate to Lunch in Paris! I eagerly devoured the pages of this book, yet I wanted to stretch out the reading experience at the same time. I found myself reading parts aloud to Carl while he and I nodded our heads in agreement. I felt like Elizabeth was spot on in her assessments of the differences in cultures, and I appreciate the way she always treated them respectfully. After all, different doesn’t necessarily equal better or worse. I think this book will have broad appeal – those who love memoirs, love food, have lived in another culture, or hope to live in another culture will all relate to this book.
Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. To see who else is participating this weekend, click on the logo.
Review copy provided by Hachette Books. I am an Indiebound Affiliate.
This sounds like a delightful read, and I love that cover!
I’m glad you liked it because it’s on my shelf and I want to work it into my reading soon.
The book really sound sweet and a light read. And I always love to read anything with food =)
I wasn’t sure if this would be a book for me or not. However, after reading your review I KNOW that I must read it soon 🙂
I saw this at the library a few weeks ago and almost picked it up. Now I wish I had. I’m going to put it on hold right now 🙂
Thanks for the review.
Sounds delightful! I’ve never been to Paris so I wonder if I’d appreciate it as much.
Oh I bet I would love this, and not just for the foodie bits. Anyone who has lived in a different country could probably relate. I think I have a copy of this …. must track down now.
Great review. I can especially see how you can relate to the story.
Loved the line about how you devoured the pages of the book!
Sounds like a light summer read – will you be making any of the recipes?
I can so relate to adjusting and learning about the different culture of a spouse. This sounds really good. I think I would like it…and recipes???Yum
I loved this book also. I couldn’t stop laughing at the chapter about Parisians and their dogs!
Now that we’ve spent a little time there, with our French friends, I think I would really like this one.
Your enthusiasm is so compelling I need to pick this up, as one who also lived in France as you did. I’m fascinated with their culture, as well as the idea of marriages working it out there. And recipes…:)
I’m a bit of an armchair traveller, so this one sounds right up my alley. Thanks for the review!
This sounds like a perfect book for you. It reminds me of the wonderful series you did on your life in France. I want to read this book.
My sister is a romantic at heart AND a chef so I am going to recommend this one to her. It sounds charming.
since you lived in France and are yourself aware of many of the cultural difference, I can see how this one spoke to you.
Kathy, I am charmed by your review. It sounds like a lovely book.
For this reason, I totally fell in love with My Life in France by Julia Child. The French-ness! The food! But because you have lived there, I am sure this was more of a 3D experience for you.
I so want to read this book! Paris, food, that cover = sold!
This book sounds delightful, enjoyable and very interesting. I’ve never lived in another country but would welcome the opportunity. I’m thrilled that the author included recipes in her memoir.
You review is wonderful, Kathy and I love your excitement and genuine enjoyment of this book!
~ Amy
When someone who has lived the experience raves about an ex-pat’s memoir, the antennae go up. I will look for this. Thank you.
What a great read for culture and fine cuisine. I’m so happy you enjoyed this book and will look out for it on my end. You definitely made me want to go out and enjoy discovering the pleasure contained in Lunch in Paris. Love your enthusiasm and know it leaves me smiling for the rest of the day too.
Have a great Sunday 🙂
This book is just the kind of book I love to read….Paris, romance, and food!
Thank you for sharing your review with us.
This book keeps tempting me. 😀
Great review! This sounds like a really good book.
I love memoirs, and having it be about cultures and food makes it even more of a draw. This one is going right on my wish list.
This sounds wonderful…I want to read it!! 😀
I am interested in this one! I keep forgetting about the Weekend Cooking Meme – my Seven Year Switch would have been an awesome fit! I will ahve to keep this in mind 🙂
This sounds like a cute book, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Great review, I’m not a foodie reader but I love memoirs and books about other cultures. This is another one I will have to add to my reading list.
Moving a few states away was a bit of a culture-shock for me. I couldn’t imagine moving to a completely new country! Though I bet Paris is gorgeous. The food part appeals to me…
It sounds like this was the perfect read for you and also like it let you live some of your past experiences. I am so glad you loved this book! I will have to keep an eye out for it!
I just put this on hold. I had forgotten all about it, your review reminded me just how much I wanted to read this book. It sounds wonderful!
Hooray!
My library has a copy of the book and I have a hold on the copy of the book … only 25 people ahead of me before I get to read it!
I’ve always been interested in living somewhere in Europe for awhile, so this sounds like a book that’s just right for me.
I bet this would have been a great read for you having lived there. I’d love to read this one too- I love books like this.
This sounds absolutely delightful! Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I love the fact that the recipes are included – that is always such a pleasant surprise!
I don’t read this type of book often, but you’ve convinced me to add this to my to-read-some-day list.
Memoir, culture, food – that’s a great combo and I can see why you liked this book. I’m going to look it up too!
I loved the inclusion of recipes. So many to try!
Sounds delightful! I definitely like food but can’t say the same for cooking. LOL. Thanks for reviewing this book, Kathy!