A Good Book on France?

[eternal]

Is there a good book I can get on the different regions of France, what they are known for in regards to food and wine and that is more culinary based than just a Fodors or Lonely Planet? I'm going to be in France for about 4 weeks in August and while I'm traveling with a local Lyonaise who is pretty knowledgeable in such things, I feel overwhelmed right now trying to at least get a grasp on such a broad topic. I'm not that interested in the really fancy places as my budget won't allow for it (traveling for 10 months ) unless they have a good budget set menu for lunch.

On that note, I have a 15 hour layover in Paris a few weeks before I start traveling there and plan on taking the train into Les Halles. Any recommendations on a bistro near there? I've been to the Fallafel place before. Looking for a 20 euro set menu or a good steak au poivre and frites..

[cigalechanta]

Maybe out of Print? not sure but each book in the series that mentioned where to stay and eat were right on. Recipes very simple.

The Gastronomique series is published by Abbyville.

[John Whiting]

It's a sad fact that good eating and sleeping places in provincial France are, to put it euphemistically, in a state of flux. I'd get hold of a copy of the Logis hotel guide; it won't lead you to any gastronomic epiphanies, but it's very useful in out-of-the-way places.

For a general overview of French history and cuisine, Waverly Root's "France" is a wonderful read, but it has both the strengths and the weaknesses of having been written half a century ago.

[KD1191]

On that note, I have a 15 hour layover in Paris a few weeks before I start traveling there and plan on taking the train into Les Halles. Any recommendations on a bistro near there? I've been to the Fallafel place before. Looking for a 20 euro set menu or a good steak au poivre and frites..

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Not exactly "near" Les Halles (a 15 - 20 minute walk east, closer to Place des Vosges), but I had the best budget meal of my last trip to Paris at Café des Musées. It gets a pretty good review here, and I would agree that the frites are some of the best I've ever had. Particularly memorable was a terrine of blood sausage with green chartreuse. The set menu for lunch was certainly less than 20 euro.

[Dave Hatfield]

Following up on John's recommendation you might also want to look at:

Relais du Silence.

This is an association of independent hotels around France. They're normally a bit up market from the Logis (which we use all the time by the way) and the food can be pretty good.

We've been using them for many years and have never had a bad experience.

These, Logis and Michelin plus some research should get you what you want.

[eternal]

I went down to the local bookstore and they didn't have much. Nor is there much in the Kindle store and it is too late for me to order them online (leaving on Sunday!) picked up the Michelin guide to wine regions in France. I figure it would be good primer on the regions and it mentions a few dining options in all the regions. I will take a look at the Relais du Silence. Thanks!

[John Whiting]

Once you're in France, the Logis guide should be in every Logis hotel; they're everywhere.

[Dave Hatfield]

Once you're in France, the Logis guide should be in every Logis hotel; they're everywhere.

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Try:Logis

On line version. Plus as John says any :Logis Hotel.

[robert brown]

Although written 40 years ago, nothing comes close to what you want than "Guide Gourmand de la France" written by Henri Gault and Christian Millau. It's laid out like the Blue Guides and covers every bit of France in terms of its culinary landscape. It's in French. To get it, try the big antiquarian book sites like ABE Books or Alibris. Maybe Amazon has a used copy. It's unbelieveable.

[Dave Hatfield]

Although written 40 years ago, nothing comes close to what you want than "Guide Gourmand de la France" written by Henri Gault and Christian Millau. It's laid out like the Blue Guides and covers every bit of France in terms of its culinary landscape. It's in French. To get it, try the big antiquarian book sites like ABE Books or Alibris. Maybe Amazon has a used copy. It's unbelieveable.

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Their guide is still going strong. You should be able to buy the latest version at Amazon.

Unfortunately, their website seems to be "under construction"

[robert brown]

Dave, I'm not talking about the annual Guide Gault-Millau. The work I am recommending pre-dates their first restaurant guide (Guide Julien, I think) and the first one, soon after, under their names. This one-time-only book covers gastronomic France town-by-town and road-by-road exactly like the Guide Bleu. It was never to be replicated or updated again: an amazing piece of work. I don't think it has even been made into a reprint, which it so obviously calls out for.

[Dave Hatfield]

Dave, I'm not talking about the annual Guide Gault-Millau. The work I am recommending pre-dates their first restaurant guide (Guide Julien, I think) and the first one, soon after, under their names. This one-time-only book covers gastronomic France town-by-town and road-by-road exactly like the Guide Bleu. It was never to be replicated or updated again: an amazing piece of work. I don't think it has even been made into a reprint, which it so obviously calls out for.

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Robert, My apologies for getting it wrong. Are the names a coincidence? Or does the modern guide take its name from the original?

[Reignking]

Culinaria: France is an excellent book, available at Amazon or B&N. It will give you an overview of all of the regions of France and their food & drink specialties. Great photography. Edited July 13, 2009 by Reignking (log)

[PhilD]

I always enjoy reading Elizabeth David's French Provincial Cooking this link allows you to read pages 18 to 52 that run through the food of each of the regions.

It was written in 1960 by an English cookery writer who is regarded as one of the best ever British cookery writers. The rest of the book has some very good recipes with lots of background about the history of dishes and the regional variation. It is both a cook book as well as a book to simply read for pleasure.

Edited July 13, 2009 by PhilD (log)

[robert brown]

Dave, if the names are the same (Guide Gourmand de la France), then Gault and Millau used the name of 1970 book for its annual guides. The book is 1112 pages long, had six collaborators besides the two men, and 128 itinerairies with many sub-itineraries, long essays about each region an, d major towns and cities, an index of regional dishes, a restaurant list, and on and on. It even dwarfs the Slow Food publications in its scope and detail. I see that it is published as one of the books in the "Bibliotheque des Guides Bleus". No doubt much of what it describes and documents no longer exists.

[markk]

This is exactly the book you're looking for - and you can find it online:

"A Traveller's Guide to the Food of France"

(Region by Region Guide to Food and Wines)

(Paperback, 1986)

Author: Glynn Christian

[Dave Hatfield]

This is exactly the book you're looking for - and you can find it online:

"A Traveller's Guide to the Food of France"

(Region by Region Guide to Food and Wines)

(Paperback, 1986)

Author: Glynn Christian

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I found a copy on eBay for $2.00.

Looks interesting, but it was published in 1986 and I don't know if it has been revised or updated since. Still, it should be an interesting read in any case.