Tasting Paris: 100 Recipes to Eat Like a Local: A Cookbook

by Clotilde Dusoulier

Tasting Paris  features new and classic French recipes and cooking techniques that will demistify the art of French cooking and transport your dinner guests to Paris. Whether you have experienced the charm of Paris many times or dream of planning your first trip, here you will find the food that makes this city so beloved. Featuring classic recipes like Roast Chicken with Herbed Butter and Croutons, and Profiteroles, as well as newer dishes that reflect the way Parisians eat today, such as Ratatouille Pita Sandwich with Chopped Eggs and Tahini Sauce and Spiralized Zucchini Salad with Peach and Green Almonds. With 100 recipes, 125 evocative photographs, and native Parisian Clotilde Dusoulier’s expertise, Tasting Paris transports you to picnicking along the Seine, shopping the robust open-air markets, and finding the best street food—bringing the flavors and allure of this favorite culinary destination to your very own kitchen.

Genres: Cookbooks, Food, Cooking, France, Nonfiction, Paris, Food and Drink

256 pages, Hardcover

Published March 20, 2018

About the author

Clotilde Dusoulier is a Parisian author and blogger who lives in Montmartre and shares her passion for all things food-related -- thoughts, recipes, musings, cookbook acquisitions, quirky ingredients, nifty tools, restaurant experiences, ideas, and inspirations.

Reviews

[Hirondelle (not getting notifications) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a fan of her blog (which still exists I think, though very sporadic posts and recipes are now IMO a bit strange) from way back on the hey-day of food blogs (that is late 00s). I liked a lot her first recipe book Chocolate and Zucchini: Daily Adventures in a Parisian Kitchen, where from a recente browse I found the styling has aged a lot (IMO), but the text and recipes were fantastic still.

Her career after that seems to be focused on packaging "French" or "Paris" to an American (middle class) market and not terrible interesting. But just browsing through this I thought it was a bit better and getting it I was right. It is still a bit seat-at-home tourist and daydream about Paris, but it has plenty of interesting recipes, it is a realistic diverse modern Paris and her recipe writing is still precisely to my taste, clear and funny. Tagged quite a few things to try as well, so it also passes the test of stuff I would want to eat and/or cook.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t tried cooking any recipes yet, so four stars for now. The recipes are arranged as one might spend a day eating in Paris, starting with breakfast and ending with late night. Primarily a cookbook, it is sprinkled with information about Paris, and French history and culture. It was a nice escape during the COVID-19 pandemic, with travel all but impossible.

Update: We made one recipe from the book so far, and it was so good that I’m bumping this rating up to five stars. We’re excited to try more!

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Clotilde Dusoulier announced that she was coming out with her fifth book I may have lost it a little. In a good way. I have all of her books, love her blog (Chocolate and Zucchini, which is one of the first blogs I ever read), and even hired her for a food tour of Montmartre when we were in Paris in January 2017. She has such a healthful and unique approach to food, using and combining ingredients I never would have thought of myself.

Tasting Paris is Clotilde's most approachable cookbook yet. Whenever I get a new cookbook I go through it, page by page, writing down each recipe I'd like to try. The recipes I make note of are those that aren't too intimidating and I would feel comfortable making that night for dinner if all of the ingredients were in the kitchen. Most cookbooks I go through have ten or fewer, some have 20-30, but Tasting Paris has 50 recipes that I want to make right now.

I have already made the Oven-Roasted Ratatouille into Ratatouille Pita Sandwiches with Chopped Eggs & Tahini Sauce. This week I am making the Classic Ham & Bacon Quiche and Roasted Squash Soup & Curried Cheese Quenelle. Soon after that I'll be making a Potato Chip & Chive Omelet, Croque Madame, and Tuna Escabeche. There's a comfortable mix of super easy recipes, regular weeknight dinner recipes, and others that are a little more intimidating to the average cook. But for those that fall into the "intimidating" category, the ingredients and steps are very approachable and will only require a little courage to get started (I'm looking at you, Kouign Amann).

The photography was shot by Nicole Franzen and it is absolutely stunning. There is almost a photo for each recipe but a few are missing. Keep an eye out for more recipe reviews in my Wednesday Whimsy posts and a compilation post in a few weeks.

If you haven't yet, please go check out the Chocolate and Zucchini blog and if you have an interest in cooking (or know someone who does) you can pre-order or buy Tasting Paris here or pick it up in a bookstore tomorrow, March 20, 2018! I am honored to be a part of the Tasting Paris launch team, for which I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Laura Bradbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Clothilde’s since the early days of her blog “Chocolate & Zucchini.” Her recipes are always no-nonsense but with a very solid dose of fun and whimsy – also, just look at those profiteroles on the cover. Gah.

This book contains 100 recipes to eat like a local, and she truly delivers. It is one of my faves in our kitchen.

[Iryna Zinchuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

After this book I want to Paris

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely cookbook. It has lovely pictures that not only show you the beautiful food but also have little snapshots into life in Paris. The recipes sound wonderful and I can't wait to make all of them but it is really the commentary provided by the author that really brings it together and takes it from just a cookbook to a beautiful view into the world of Paris. I have been to Paris multiple times but didn't quite feel the strong love for Paris that others have declared. I believe this is because I didn't get enough time to slow down and enjoy and learn the real Paris; the beautiful and historic culture of Paris that the Parisians grow up with. I regret this but this wonderful cookbook has helped to meet that need and in a way made it a stronger need. I feel like I learned so much about the life of Paris through the authors stories and food. I have learned that love of Paris through this book, however, this has given me even stronger regret because I don't know the next time I will get to go back to Paris and truly experience a hint of the beautiful things I have learned from this cookbook.

[Marzi Pecen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am biased. Clotilde is a friend. But even if you haven’t met her the tone of her writing is friendly and accessible. The recipes are perfect for a little taste of Paris & her recollections are a walk in the streets of the city with her by your side. Like all her recipes they are easy to executive and delicious.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

One could say I'm feeding my French obsession with this... but I'm just going to say I'm broadening my taste in food from different cultures.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dusoulier, Parisian food lover and blogger (chocolate and zucchini), provides a cookbook that is part recipes and part a look at the food scene in Paris and how the recipes have evolved in the recent past. These are kind of new-traditional Parisian foods. There aren’t recipes for croissants but there is for a French toast croissant melange. The omelet recipe adds potato chips. Recipes often have variations included. Some recipes are Middle Eastern/North African influenced including a Tunisian Tuna salad version of the salade nicoise.
The recipes are clearly written. Pictures of some recipes. Lots of pictures of Paris. I liked the cookbook because it bridges not the new and the old, the traditional and the ethnic influences

[Claire]

I'm never sure whether I'm into French food, but this cookbook has me wanting to make all sorts of things. A lot of the recipes look pretty light, highlighting fresh produce. Soon after reading this I had a dinner party themed around the cookbook and made the mushroom bourgignon, oven roasted ratatouille, hazelnut cristed goat cheese and apple (peach) salad, radish leaf pesto, pears (peaches) poached in spiced red wine, and caramelized arlette cookies. The goat cheese-peach salad was a highlight and now I keep thinking about what other fruits could be used for the slices.

[Plum · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s like being in Paris

So much fun reading this book ~ takes me back to fond memories of Paris. Good pictures, descriptions and explanations of various iconic Parisienne dishes. I have yet to cook from it but having had past experience with her recipes, I feel confident that these will turn out well.

[Mary Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the recipes and the pictures - a lot of the recipes were pretty accessible for me to make with ingredients I usually have on hand and many also seemed like something I would make on a typical day. The recipes made me think of the time I lived in France so the nostalgia was welcome too. This book felt like a warm hug.

[S · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as many recipes in this one that I will make, compared to her last book, but still enough to make it worthwhile - Chicken & pistachio terrine! Cauliflower brioche!

The blurbs about the specialized family food businesses were interesting. I just wish there were more pics of the actual recipes than random buildings and streets in Paris.

[Carolyn Busch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just returned from my first trip to Europe and really loved the French food that we had. Imagine to my surprise that we took a picture of a bakery, Les Petit Mitrons, that was mentioned in this cookbook! ( unfortunately couldn't get in due to the long line). Her recipes seem doable and the ingredients are easily obtainable. The recipe for steamed hard boiled eggs is a keeper.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve made the ice cream, rice pudding, pork loin, and potatoes. All fabulous. I personally struggled with the mixed nut brittle. I don’t see myself making the Asian or North African cuisines, but all in all I loved this book. I checked it out at the library and decided to purchase the book because the recipes were easy to follow and delicious and want to repeat them again.

[Tink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I am plant based, I read this book cover to cover. I loved the blurbs before each recipe inviting us to take a look at Paris food culture. I would totally read more cookbooks by this author.

[Josh · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring recipes which give more of a vibe then authentic insights. The ingredients of the dish on the book cover are literally: puff pastry, ice cream, chocolate sauce, almonds…..
Great…. Who would have thought?

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gained 5 pounds reading this book! Can’t wait to try some of the recipes and make my own puff pastry!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great French recipes, fun little facts and beautiful photography.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of these recipes looked really yummy and I would love to try some. I will probably read this again.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chocolate bread is life changing!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like reading a good cookbook with beautiful pictures of Paris and charming stories of neighborhoods and people.

[Elizabeth Judd Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting food tidbits, pretty photography, and tasty recipes.

[Arlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 3rd time I am reading this book. Trying more recipes

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautifully written book.

[MalteseKat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great photos and writing. Fairly easy recipes. At my house we are big fans of the potato chip and chive omelet. C’est parfait.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am going to make so many recipes out of this book.

[Emily Monroe · Rating 5 out of 5]

These recipes look amazing and with typical French style, they have minimal ingredients (just buy quality!). I am excited to try them.

[Aasinathena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how "whole-French" this book has been ;yes including food from their Colonies!! Lovely collection !

[Amanda Bright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this book -- held the interest and provided some great recipes to try.