About.com Rating

Vendor's Site

Eating in France can be an adventure. There is a staggering range of food choices, from different types of restaurants to specialty food shops, not to mention that most French of food places, le marché. But what is the difference between a café and a brasserie? Should you spend extra time buying baguettes and charcuterie at specialized shops, or just do all your shopping at the supermarché?

For those of us not lucky enough to be born into the wonderful world of French cuisine, new help is at hand in the form of a French audiobook called Eating and Shopping in France, the first in a new series of "practical guides to lifestyle, manners and language" by Kolibri Languages.

Part 1: Eating Out describes the differences between cafés, brasseries, restaurants, and other French-style eateries, including their history and traditions, how they tend to be decorated, and what to expect in terms of food choices and service.

Part 2: Traditional Food Shops explains the variety of bread, pastries, cheeses, and meats the French traditionally purchase at specialty neighborhood shops - though supermarchés continue to eat away at them.

Part 3: Not To Be Missed details French food markets, wine caves, regional specialties, and le shopping à Paris.

Each part is divided into sections with useful info, cultural tips, keyword lists, essential phrases, and a short quiz to help reinforce the new vocabulary and customs.

There are color photos throughout, as well as a CD offering audio files of all the vocabulary, phrases, and language tips to help you develop your listening comprehension and pronunciation skills in preparation for your next French food outing.

The Bottom Line

This is a terrific guide to food in France, but I do have one complaint: it's not pocket-sized. With fewer than 100 pages, the book is fairly light, but since it measures nearly 10 by 10 inches, it's too big to carry around. So before you go wandering the streets of Paris or Lyon looking for culinary adventure, you'll need to study and/or copy the info you think you might need. Bon appétit !

By the same author: Meeting the French

Vendor's Site

Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.