Burgundy Gastronomique

Rating:
Summary: For Francophiles and foodlovers...
Review: Last night, having decided spur of the moment to make a special meal, I pulled out my newest favorite cookbook, Burgundy Gastronomique, with results far more impressive than my paltry cooking skills deserve.

I like this book for several reasons:

1. The recipes are simpler and more accessable than most serious French cookbooks, but the results taste like you slaved for hours.

2. The photos of food and the Burgundy countryside are so beautiful you could lose yourself and forget to make dinner.

3. The book gives fascinating background information on traditional Burgundian foodstuffs (Dijon mustard, gherkins, Bresse chickens, various cheeses, etc.).

There's also some cursory text on Burgundy's famous wine districts but anyone with a serious interest in Burgundy wines and terroir should look elsewhere for in-depth info.

A few of of the regional specialties aren't readily available at your local supermarket, which shouldn't be a problem if you don't mind substituting ingredients (prosciutto in place of Morvan ham, for example). The book is organized around smaller regions within Burgundy, which is great for those who primarily want to learn about the area or who read cookbooks cover to cover, but less efficient if you're in a hurry and just want to compare poultry recipes. Fortunately, in addition to the regular index, there's a helpful list of recipes in the back that's organized by category.

All in all, I keep coming back to this book and like it so much that I'm planning to look for more in the same series.