On Rue Tatin
Living and cooking in a small French town
by Susan Loomis
Overview
From the publisher:
Susan Loomis arrived in Paris twenty years ago with little more than a student loan and the contents of a suitcase to sustain her. But what began then as an apprenticeship at La Varenne École de Cuisine evolved into a lifelong immersion in French cuisine and culture, culminating in permanent residency in 1994. On Rue Tatin chronicles her journey to this ancient little street in the midst of Louviers, and how she came to call it home.
With lyrical prose and wry candor, Loomis recalls the miraculous restoration that she and her husband performed on the dilapidated convent they chose for their new residence. As its ocher and azure floor tiles emerged, challenges outside the dwelling mounted. From squatters to a surly priest next door, along with a close?knit community wary of outsiders, Loomis tackled the social challenges head?on, through persistent dialogue?and baking.
As fresh ingredients abound in this rural haven, along with a reverence for the kitchen, On Rue Tatin features fifty delicious recipes that evoke the essence of the region, such as Apple and Thyme Tart and main courses including Duck Breast with Cider and Braised Chicken in White Wine and Mustard.
Transporting readers to a world whose cobblestone lanes shirk commercialism in favor of cherished tradition, On Rue Tatin provides a touching glimpse of the camaraderie, exquisite food, and simple pleasures of daily life in this truly glorious corner of Normandy.
My Thoughts
This is a book I will turn to time and time again. I loved it! Part of it is similar to Under the Tuscan Sun in that the author and her family purchase an old property in need of substantial work and restore it to a thing of beauty. It's delightful to read about the experience! The other half of it is devoted to cooking and her experiences with food in France. As one who loves to play in the kitchen, I found her stories about shopping, cooking and sharing food very entertaining.
I haven't actually tried any of the recipes included in the book yet but I plan to, perhaps as early as tomorrow! I didn't realize there were recipes in the book when I purchased it, and was pleasantly surprised when I came across them. There are several that I want to try.
Favorite Passage
On Wednesdays, when school is out and our regular bakery, Aux Delices de Louviers, is closed, we go to the bakery round the corner from the graineterie and buy their pain passion, a heavy, sturdy, crisp-crusted baguette that costs a fortune for it is sold by weight, but which we love. The bakery is so busy it has lines of hungry people outside in the mornings and just before mealtimes as people buy their bread, quiches, sandwiches (pronounced sohndweech), tarts and flaky pastries.
