A Taste of Paris is a delectable culinary history of the gastronomic
capital of the world, written by David Downie, the critically acclaimed
author of Paris, Paris and A Passion for Paris.
"A joyous romp through time . . . The streets and tables of Paris will
never be the same and I could not be more grateful." **--Alice Waters
**
In his trademark witty and informative style, David Downie embarks on a
quest to discover "What is it about the history of Paris that has made
it a food lover's paradise?" Long before Marie Antoinette said, "Let
them eat cake!" (actually, it was brioche), the Romans of Paris devoured
foie gras, and live oysters rushed in from the Atlantic; one Medieval
cookbook describes a thirty-two part meal featuring hare stew, eel soup,
and honeyed wine; during the last great banquet at Versailles a year
before the Revolution the gourmand Louis XVI savored thirty-two main
dishes and sixteen desserts; yet, in 1812, Grimod de la Reynière, the
father of French gastronomy, regaled guests with fifty-two courses,
fifteen wines, three types of coffee, and seventeen liqueurs.
Following the contours of history and the geography of the city, Downie
sweeps readers on an insider's gourmet walking tour of Paris and its
environs in A Taste of Paris, revealing the locations of Roman butcher
shops, classic Belle Epoque bistros serving diners today and Marie
Antoinette's exquisite vegetable garden that still supplies produce, no
longer to the unfortunate queen, but to the legendary Alain Ducasse and
his stylish restaurant inside the palace of Versailles. Along the way,
readers learn why the rich culinary heritage of France still makes Paris
the ultimate arbiter in the world of food.
