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The Sweet Life in Paris: Delicious Adventures in the World's Most Glorious---and Perplexing---City Audiobook
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(3.00) - 4,732 listener ratings
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Publisher 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 Fraîche Cake, will have listeners 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.
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"I should have read this before I went to France, not just after I got back. It is a cookbook, with recipes well-interspersed between stories and commentary on being an American living in Paris, like a non-fiction "Like Water for Chocolate" set in France. I have not yet tried any of the recipes."
— Chicadances (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Cooks aren’t usually such good writers—so funny, skeptical, and observant. He’s a wonderful one. Also, I’m a fervent fan of his ice cream book, so I can’t wait to cook my way through his other recipes.”
— Diane Johnson, New York Times bestselling author of Le Divorce -
David Lebovitz is the greatest thing to happen to dessert since the spoon, but this time he shows that beyond his artful nose and flawless taste, he also has a keen reporter's eye.
— Mort Rosenblum, author of The Secret Life of the Seine -
“This feisty memoir-with-recipes is just as tart as it is sweet.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“David Lebovitz is the greatest thing to happen to dessert since the spoon, but this time he shows that beyond his artful nose and flawless taste, he also has a keen reporter’s eye. If Paris intrigues, excites, or merely interests you, read this book.”
— Mort Rosenblum, author of A Goose in Toulouse
The Sweet Life in Paris Listener Reviews
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" Fun easy read about adventures in Paris... some good recipes as well! "
— Angela, 2/19/2014 -
" Mainly just slightly entertaining because I have had similar experiences in Paris. I tried to cook the chicken with mole sauce and it was a disaster. The recipe was complicated and messy and tasted horrible. Lebovitz is slightly sad in his attempts to become Parisian. "
— Currie, 2/14/2014 -
" I love this kind of personal memoir with interesting recipes sprinkled throughout it. Lebovitz shares his love of french cuisine along with some wonderful stories of Parisian lifestyle. This a great book for Americans headed to Paris who want to try not to stick out like sore thumbs. "
— Glencora, 2/9/2014 -
" This was a fun read about the authors experience living in Paris. He is a chef so he also includes some delicious recipes. "
— Kristin, 2/6/2014 -
" Charming, humorous, blog-y accounts of the former Chez Panisse pastry chef's days in Paris through the filter of his insightful culinary sensibilities. A huge bonus is the assortment of excellent, if somewhat random, recipes. Lebovitz is obviously in love with his life as an American in Paris, but can also be scathingly funny with respect to local idiosyncrasies. "
— Cflynn, 2/3/2014 -
" makes you want to EAT your way through Paris! "
— Jan, 2/2/2014 -
" This book was fun, sort of a Sedaris Light. Nothing special but if you have a particular interest in either Paris or dessert it's worth checking out. The recipes mixed in between chapters are a nice bonus. "
— Noah, 1/23/2014 -
" I really enjoyed this book! While the recipes were lost on me, I felt like I was exploring all of the foodie hotspots of Paris right alongside with David Lebovitz. It also gave interesting information on the cultural differences between Americans and the French. I highly recommend it!! "
— Jenna, 1/18/2014 -
" A fun read with great snippets about life in Paris and all the delicious food that life entails. "
— Barbara, 1/15/2014 -
" I love David Lebovitz. Amazing recipes and a sarcastic wit - this book made me smile. And it made me grateful I'm not planning a move to Paris in the near future, though I'll be all the wiser next time I pop in for a visit. "
— Michelle, 12/31/2013 -
" I'm a little over the "France does everything amazingly well" bit (not that I think the U.S. has cornered the market on culture, but France doesn't have all the answers, either!). I read this for a book club; otherwise, I am not sure I would have finished it.... Grumblings aside, it was okay. "
— Tricia, 12/26/2013 -
" Fantastic way to experience Paris vicariously through David's eating adventures. "
— Katy, 12/13/2013 -
" It was fun and short. There were more recipes than story. "
— Andrea, 12/7/2013 -
" DYING to try the warm goat cheese salad and the chocolate macaroons. "
— Keegan, 12/1/2013 -
" What a wonderful book, one of my favorites and the goodies are sooo yummy "
— Yv, 10/30/2013 -
" essential reading for any expat...he get's the frustrations without whining about them and celebrates the reasons many of have chosen this gypsy life "
— Gillian, 10/23/2013 -
" Affectionate essays about the charms and idiosyncratic customs of life in Paris by a former California pastry chef. The recipes are a little unreliable, alas. "
— Virginia, 10/12/2013 -
" Finally got it from the library! It was no "Molly," but I enjoyed it. I thought of my dear Anna a lot and her great love for all things Paris. "
— Jenn, 7/7/2013 -
" recipes and tips for visiting paris. "
— westie, 6/12/2013 -
" Cute accounting of what it's like to live in Paris and how to deal with the French. "
— Kay, 6/3/2013 -
" this called to me from the library shelves yesterday despite the fact that I'm currently reading two other books - but i haven't been able to put it down! it's wonderful and funny! the whole memoir/travel book is studded with recipes that make me want to bake all day long. "
— April, 5/1/2013 -
" This is an amazing non fiction book. It has wit, drama, and opinion galore, not to mention the delicious recipes at the end of every chapter! It shows the judgmental side of parisians, as well as their soft spot for anything-chocolate-cake-realted. "
— Rei, 1/31/2013 -
" funny, great recipes. think i'll buy the book as it only read it on the kindle. "
— Curly, 1/11/2013 -
" Kind of fun to read about the author's move to France. I never felt compelled to sit down and finish reading it all at once, but a chapter every few days worked fine. This probably wouldn't appeal to everyone, but it fed my cookbook addiction just fine... "
— Kelly, 9/3/2012
About David Lebovitz
David Lebovitz lived in San Francisco for twenty years before moving to Paris. He baked at several notable restaurants before starting his career as a cookbook author and food writer. He’s the author of several highly regarded books on desserts, and the cookbook, My Paris Kitchen. He has written for many major food magazines, sharing his well-tested recipes written with a soupçon of humor.
About David Drummond
David Drummond has made his living as an actor for over twenty-five years, appearing on stages large and small throughout the country and in Seattle, Washington, his hometown. He has narrated over thirty audiobooks, in genres ranging from current political commentary to historical nonfiction, fantasy, military, thrillers, and humor. He received an AudioFile Earphones Award for his first audiobook, Love ’Em or Lose ’Em: Getting Good People to Stay. When not narrating, he keeps busy writing plays and stories for children.