PARIS EXPRESS

Having lived in Paris for many years, Laura always knew that the French cook and eat so well. She gleaned many secrets about how they get dinner/lunch/supper on the table to such a standard while simultaneously maintaining a busy life with no time to spin sugar baskets. She will share these tips and secrets with us, like how to make your kitchen feel it’s really in a chic apartment in Montmartre, or if lacking inspiration of what to cook, gently fry an onion in some butter as its familiar coaxing aroma will tell you what to do next—in this case, make refrigerator soup!

Contrary to popular belief, French cooking is not supposed to be a fraught, complicated experience. Entertaining your friends is not a formal, stuffed shirt affair either. For the French, the more spontaneous the better; it’s about sharing a meal with people you really want to see. They shop efficiently and as a result, the food is fresh and simple, because as Laura says, “That is all there is time for.” Her recipes are inspiring and her elegant, unique voice tempts the reader to try something stylish, impressive and without fuss.

Paris Express is divided simply into appetizers, mains, sides and desserts with tips on how to cultivate a ‘Paris Pantry’ and other informative pieces of wisdom, like how to jazz up your plain white china, gather a picnic on a platter for friends or give leftovers a dignified new life.

With full-colour photography, roughly 120 fabulous recipes, sample menus and a generous smattering of art de vivre, tips and ideas Paris Express is a confidence-building companion for home cooks who have no time to fuss, but whose lives in the kitchen (and elsewhere) are craving instant cheer, indulgence and inspiration.

Laura Calder is a Food Network star, bestseller in her native Canada and she appears on the Cooking Channel in the US. She is the award-winning author of three previous food books, French Food at Home, French Taste, and Dinner Chez Moi.