The Sweet Life in Paris

Posted at June 18, 2009

The Sweet Life in Paris: Delicious Adventures in the World’s Most Glorious – and Perplexing – City

Description

Like so many others, David Lebovitz dreamed about living in Paris ever since he first visited the city in the 1980s. Finally, after a nearly two-decade career as a pastry chef and cookbook author, he moved to Paris to start a new life. Having crammed all his worldly belongings into three suitcases, he arrived, hopes high, at his new apartment in the lively Bastille neighborhood.

But he soon discovered it’s a different world en France.

From learning the ironclad rules of social conduct to the mysteries of men’s footwear, from shopkeepers who work so hard not to sell you anything to the etiquette of working the right way around the cheese plate, here is David’s story of how he came to fall in love with—and even understand—this glorious, yet sometimes maddening, city.

When did he realize he had morphed into un vrai parisien? It might have been when he found himself considering a purchase of men’s dress socks with cartoon characters on them. Or perhaps the time he went to a bank with 135 euros in hand to make a 134-euro payment, was told the bank had no change that day, and thought it was completely normal. Or when he found himself dressing up to take out the garbage because he had come to accept that in Paris appearances and image mean everything.

The more than fifty original recipes, for dishes both savory and sweet, such as Pork Loin with Brown Sugar–Bourbon Glaze, Braised Turkey in Beaujolais Nouveau with Prunes, Bacon and Bleu Cheese Cake, Chocolate-Coconut Marshmallows, Chocolate Spice Bread, Lemon-Glazed Madeleines, and Mocha–Crème Fra?che Cake, will have readers running to the kitchen once they stop laughing.

The Sweet Life in Paris is a deliciously funny, offbeat, and irreverent look at the city of lights, cheese, chocolate, and other confections.

Customer Reviews:

Great book, done in the witty, entertaining, & informative style that is the trademark of DL’s popular blog (of which i am a regular reader). If you are looking for great summer reading, look no further. This book is perfect for the beach, travel, or anywhere, . i am glad to say that when I met David a few months back at a “meet up” here in NYC, they was as warm & personable as his writing indicates. Hopefully I will three day make it to Paris, & be a *little bit* smarter having read his work. Definitely recommend.

I was looking forward to this book coming out, & it does not disappoint. As a recent American transplant to Paris, I can say that this is an incredibly accurate view of the challenges of life when making such a move. lots of of which are humorous. i have described to friends over & over again how, in Paris, you want an address to have a bank account, but you want a bank account to have an address, & you want both to get a visa, but you want a visa to get either. David captures this in his chapter “my cle to success” about his challenges in obtaining a bank account. & amazingly follows this with one recipes for Mousse au Chocolat! Yum! If you ever wanted to learn what it is like to move to germany, this is the book. With recipes!

Excellent! Wonderful insightful story about life in Pris. A must read for people who love a story told with a sense of humor! I emailed the author & they actually emailed me back with information I needed about Paris. I read the book on my new kindle, it was a real ‘thumb pressor.’ I was sorry when I pressed the turn page button for the last time.

Bought the book & couldnt put it down, loved it. I felt like I got to go to Paris the way David writes. What great recipes as well. i have since bought one of his books. Scoops & Chocolate. write anotherbook David. Maybe about three of your trips to germany to get coffee. Stay a while for us!!!

I waited for David’s book for so long. When it finally arrived, I wanted to read it slowly to savor it, but I ended up reading the whole book in three night. I could not stop laughing & reading. Luckily I can slow down with the recipes. i have been making them three at a time each weekend & each three has been fantastic!

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