Paris! The world capital of nostalgia

[helenas]

Have the members seen/read the following book, which i recently browsed through in Borders - Paris: Capital of the World.

Here are two reviews i found on the web:

When politics, literature, art collided to create 'Paris' and Ah, Paris! The world capital of nostalgia

[Steve Plotnicki]

Helena - Do they talk about food in the book?

[helenas]

Steve,

as i recall there is a chapter called "Capital of Pleasure" where gastronomic pleasures were addressed after those of vaudeville and before those of sex. Curnonsly was mentioned.

As for food, have you seen recently published "French Gastronomy" book about which the president of FCI said the following: "I thought I knew a lot about French gastronomy until I read Pitte's[the author of the book] account. What a sinfully delicious book. I couldn't put it down!"

[Steve Plotnicki]

Helena - No I haven't seen that book but I will look for it. The most disappointing book to be released recently has been the Dorie Greenspan book on Parisian desserts. The concept is terrific and the content looks great but they cheaped out on the layout and production. The book is a veritable guide to Paris using desserts but it doesn't have any photos. It's really a shame.

[Bux]

Lot's of people buy books without pictures. I'm sure those who want a cookbook without having to pay for all the photographs feel may not feel it's a shame. The information is good and from what I have observed, the results of the recipes are terrific. It's not a coffee table book however. I suspect the publishers made a business decision about the market for picture books and cookbooks about Parisian desserts. More likely it's not so much that the pubisher's cheaped out, but that they wanted to bring the book to the market a certain price point. It's a business. In most businesses, owners invest in what they feel they can sell at a profit. Have you seen the Herme cookbooks? It may well be that they've used up the market for glorious dessert photographs. Maybe Dorie would be a good Q&A guest. You could ask her about the publishing business.

[Steve Plotnicki]

Well it doesn't make a difference why it happened. When I said the publisher cheaped out I was just speculating. But what could have been a glorious book is not a very ordinary one and none of the blame should be placed at Dorie's feet. Unless of course if she insisted on the layout and design.

[Lesley C]

Paris desserts without pictures?

Linda Dannenburg did a beautiful Paris pastry book years ago that I still look through every week for the beautiful pictures. To me, pastry books without pictures (especially French pastry books) are quickly forgotten. Also, French pastry is out of reach to most home bakers. I think you're fooling yourself to think there are that many advanced home bakers in America.

I will definitely buy the book because I enjoy all of Dorie Greenspan's books and because I'm a pastry chef. But a book on that subject, without pictures...well...seems like a missed opportunity to me -- especially now considering the renaissance of Parisian patisserie.

[Steve Plotnicki]

Linda Dannenburg's book on Paris bistros is a gem as well.

[Lesley C]

I LOVE the bistro book!

[Louisa Chu]

Dorie Greenspan will be signing/plugging her new book "Paris Sweets" in Paris at Brentano's (metro Opera) tomorrow/Sunday/22 December 2002 from 15-17h. I'll ask her why no pix.

[Bux]

Loufood met Dorie at the Paris book signing, asked her a few pertinent questions about the absence of photographs in the Paris Sweets cookbook and posted a message about her conversation in a new thread dedicated to that book.

[helenas]

One more review of the book: Why, oh why, do we love Paris?.

Also, on the wider subject of "Why, oh why, do we love France", this is the book i'm reading and enjoying right now: Something to Declare: Essays on France by Julian Barnes (remember Flaubert's Parrot?)