Bread and Chocolate: My Food Life in San Francisco

Rating:
Summary: A culinary journey
Review: Fran Gage's lively curiosity and her knack for finding answers to her questions make this book an inspiration for food lovers in the Bay Area. Her stories about the people who grow, harvest or produce memorable foods in this region are personal, comprehensive, and delightful to read. Fran has a talent for storytelling that takes you vicariously to the spots she uncovered in her quest for answers. Her extensive bibliography is a great list for finding out more about cooking and ingredients. As a Bay Area resident, I found this book refreshing, readable, and informative - I learned so much more about the area I live in!

Rating:
Summary: The chocolate pound cake recipe is worth the price alone!
Review: I loved this book and read it easily in one sitting. My regret is that I didn't know of Fran before her bakery burned down. Her style of writing is free and easy and without pretension. My only wish is that she had written more of her experience running a renowned bakery!

Rating:
Summary: A promising book, until...
Review: the author starts writing about herself. There were parts of this book that were an absolute joy to read...but eventually, they were marred by the author's relentless self-promotion and conceit. Reading this, one would get the idea that Fran Gage single-handedly created the California cuisine movement. She mentions landmarks such as Chez Panisse or famous chefs only to imply that they were influenced by her. However, when she sets aside her bias to describe food and cooking, her writing truly comes alive. An uneven book, and certainly an exasperating one to get through.