GIFT IDEAS......BOOKS FOR COOKS..........

As requested........some of our tried and tested favourites......Enjoy!

'NOBODY DOES IT BETTER''........This somewhat arrogant title quite honsetly sounds like something your average Frenchman came up with when the culprit is in fact, Belfast-born Trish Deseine.

Given her years of culinary experience and her self-development as an Irish foodie in France, we have to take her word for it that yes, nobody does it better!

Having studied her book, I must admit that for all lovers of French food, this one's a treat!

Trish, through a great collection of anecdotes, explains why French home cooking is still the best in the world....Traditional recipés are demystified, but what makes this one different from other classiques is that modern trends in French cuisine, inspired by the traditions of Moroco, Tunisia, the Réunion Island and the French West Indies are also included, depicting a food culture that's open to ideas from elsewhere......perhaps that's why nobody does it better?

Avaliable from Amazon.com

'THE FESTIVE FOOD OF FRANCE'

Enjoy a collection of favourite French classics for special occasions, combining mouth-watering photos and delightfully simple, but delicious recipés.

From January 6th with La galette des Rois - an almond puff pastry cake, right through to Le Réveillon de la Saint Sylvestre (New Year's Eve) any excuse will do to enjoy good food, each occasion having it's very own party piece.
Discover the religious, cultural and culinary festivals of France including Carnival, Shrove Tuesday, Easter, The Cherry Season, Midsummer, the Apple Tree Festival, the Wine Harvest, All Saint's Day and Christmas among others, through a series of informative anecdotes and easy-to-make recipés such as pan-fried black pudding with mustard sauce, Brittany pancakes, lamb with haricot beans, chestnut soup, turbot with a Champagne sauce and many more...

Available fromAmazon.com

While this one, for the moment, is only available in French, I like to recommend it to all my partipants.  Verrines,  coming from the french for 'glass,' are big business in the French Culinary world at the moment and what a creative and colourful way to serve fine food!

From apéritifs to desserts, you don't need A-level french to get your head around these little delights - every recipé is beautifully-illustrated and definately worth a dictionary!

Available also from Amazon.