Patricia Wells' Paris Food Guide

[sharksoup]

I'm headed for Paris in two weeks, and I keep seeing references to Patricia Wells' book Food Lovers Guide to Paris. But as best I can tell it was published in 1999, and I cannot find anything from her more current. Would you still recommend this, or is there a book more recent you'd recommend instead?

Thanks.

[cigalechanta]

1999 was her last updated 4th edition. It holds up well in spite of some closings and the death of poilane.

[mzimbeck]

I'm headed for Paris in two weeks, and I keep seeing references to Patricia Wells' book Food Lovers Guide to Paris. But as best I can tell it was published in 1999, and I cannot find anything from her more current. Would you still recommend this, or is there a book more recent you'd recommend instead?

Thanks.

←

She also has a website, www.patriciawells.com, that provides annual listings for her favorite restaurants (2004 is most recent). There's nothing on the website about markets and shops, which is the value of the book, but at least it's a good start. You'll probably find a lot of the information you're looking for right here on eGullet, especially if you post specific questions to the forum. Have fun!

[David Lebovitz]

The most up-to-date guide is the Time Out Guide to Eating and Dining, Paris (2005). They used to have an office in Paris, although they still seem to be present here by keeping their listings current. Although I don't often agree with their suggestions, it's best to use guidebooks as 'recommendations' and not as bibles. Time Out has a good variation of styles of places to eat, from Budget to Brasserie.

Another interesting book is Gourmet Paris by Emmanuel Rubin, which has listings based on dishes; Couscous, Coq au Vin, Frites, etc....I've actually gone to some of the places recommended and found the descriptions accurate.

David L.

[John Talbott]

Also, by the end of the month, the Zurban guide of restaurants, bistrots and wine bars will appear. It will have places that have opened this last year up to a few weeks ago, along with maps showing where each is in their arrondissement. Ironically, Zurban, which started off as a web-based publication, no longer posts the info on line.

[Margaret Pilgrim]

I think that I keep saying this, but here goes one more time: Read John Talbott's easy-to-find 2004 and 2005 reviews. The price is right, and it is undoubtedly the same information that Wells uses to make her choices.

Enjoy.

[chefzadi]

I know of the venerable John Talbott. Who is Patricia Wells, is she related to Julia Childs?

[Margaret Pilgrim]

I know of the venerable John Talbott.  Who is Patricia Wells, is she related to Julia Childs?

←

Hehehehehe! Well done!

[Bux]

I don't know Patricia well, but I've met Patricia Wells.

The Food Lover's Guide to Paris was never the consumate guide to restaurants in Paris. It's strengths were always in the other food information sections, much of which changes slowlier than restaurant information, but six years is a long time when you're dealing with a guide to a living culture and not to dead stone buildings. New shops arise and others go out of business. Is it a useful book? Probably, but some will contend that a patisserie list that doesn't mention Pierre Hermé might be enough to suggest it's useless. I don't think it will lead you astray as much as it will not necessarily lead you to the best there is today.

[menton1]

I know this is a divergence, but this thread lead me to think of the new book by Ruth Reichl Remembrance of Things Paris, an anthology of essays from Gourmet Magazine going back early in the century up to modern times covering all aspects of food life in Paris. A fascinating book, and a must read for all who frequent the Egullet France Forum.

[cigalechanta]

That's a wonderful book that She edited. There's a book reviewed in Sunday's NY Times that SHE wrote, "Garlic and Sapphires." It's about her six-year tenure as The Time's restaurant critic. Not all liked her tactics. I await what the chefs here have to say after reading it.