Lunch in Paris: A Love Story, with Recipes

Elizabeth Bard went to Paris and fell in love with a Frenchman and with Paris. This book is her memoir of the early days of their romance, their marriage, and their life in Paris. She does a wonderful job of keeping the story light and enjoyable even as she deals with the more difficult issues that she faced as an American choosing to live in a different country with a different language and a significantly different culture. Living in Paris is obviously much different than just visiting, but living in Paris with a French husband is also much different than living in Paris with an American husband as expats. On top of everything else, she is also a young woman trying to figure out what to do professionally. It is a very personal story that also provides insight into finding friends in a new city. It is never easy to build a new circle of friends from scratch. The undertaking is even trickier with language and cultural issues. There is no whining as our author embraces her choices and works to make them successful. The book is full of recipes which is terrific since so much of her French life is around the table. I enjoyed revisiting so many familiar places in Paris and in Brittany. Her writing makes you feel as if you are walking at her side in the market, at Galeries Lafayette, or Dehillerin or sitting at her table. This book ends with another big transition as they move to a small town in Provence. We will be heading to that area in a few months so I am sure that I will enjoy her next book with a personal interest again. I bought the book on a Kindle deal, and it was more than worth the purchase price.

Lunch in Paris is a real story. Sure, you have the normal Paris-colored glasses on while reading, but it's not all pastries and walks along the Seine. It's that and real life. Elizabeth met Gwendal while she was living in London (she's from New York). They did the long-distance thing for a while (weekends in Paris? Yes please!) and after two years she took the plunge to move into his cozy Parisian apartment with him. She shares her struggles with learning French, moving to a foreign country, making new friends, and figuring out what she wants to do job wise. She talks about learning the French attitude of doing what makes you happy versus doing what will earn the most money (as we tend to do in the US), and teaches her husband the anything-is-possible attitude many Americans have. It made sense to me that most of the people in their social circle or those they met didn't automatically start talking about what they did for a living; really, who wants to do that? I'm going to find a way to tell new people I meet about my passion for books, my blog, starting a ladies comic book club, and my cats before I talk about where I am stuck from 8-5 each weekday. Then, there's the food. Elizabeth does a beautiful job taking us on a walk through the market with her and explaining her troubles in trying to recreate her favorites from home with what is available in Paris. Several recipes are included that were part of stories in the same chapter. She also emphasizes what little quantities the french eat; they deny themselves nothing by eating very small portions. I'm working on this! Though it would help if the quality of food were as good as it is over there... I have already started reading her next book, Picnic in Provence. I recommend them both!

So it's the middle of February in Pennsylvania and all I see around me is snow. It's around this time of year- (when the days are slightly longer than they were in December but the cold and gray skies force you to crawl back into hibernation until the real Spring emerges) that I start getting Under the Tuscan Sun syndrome. You know, where you just want to pick up and run away to a far away land .............at least until the sun creeps out again. Then I picked up Lunch in Paris. I have long been entranced by France; its culture , history, and language. Like most of middle class America, I have never traveled to Europe due to cost, but its definitely on my bucket list. I am in love with the idea of France. It has long been the "happy place" where I go to when I get too stressed out. The Paris of my mind is where I fill my days comfortably reading at a café while sipping cafe au lait, shopping at the local market to make meals that American foodies would die for, and admiring the architecture and history of a beautiful city. In my head, I can speak perfect French; an eloquent, sensual language and I am ultimately relaxed with the world around me. This book definitely quenched my thirst for all things French. Although the author led somewhat of a charmed life, she is still relatable and allows you to be in her moment. The book covers her and her French husband's courtship, years together in Paris, and the process of growth as the author finds out how this new culture fits into her life and how it shapes her into who she is and what she wants to become. What I liked best about the book was a it was an insider account at the differences between American and French society and completely unbiased. By simple reflection the author was able to pose such interesting questions such as what could we as Americans do that the European's do to improve our lives and the way we view each other? Was the author doing the right thing living a relaxed life knowing that she was brought up on the American way of judging self worth based on academic and professional successes? Now, let's get to the food. If I can't be in France, food is one way to bring France to me. Of course food is important to the French and the author's important moments are punctuated by great cooking and family gatherings. As she learned French cooking, she learned more and more about herself and those around her. The author was ingenious by adding the recipes after each chapter. If not just to help you understand her journey better but to get you to keep the book for the recipes! I highly recommend this book, if only just to see life through someone else's eyes for a moment.I am definitely inspired to be a part of the author's Paris, if only via my stove.

I would have loved this book 5 years ago before I travelled to Paris and learned about French culture. Present me appreciated the stories and recipes but I was unfortunately board most of the time.

This book satisfied my love of things French and culinary. It made me want to visit but aware that I would probably not fit in at all. It also made me hungry so beware! This was a light, humorous at times, more about food than love read. I loved reading about the difference between the French way and the American way, such cultural differences beyond language. The recipes were mouth-watering but most were probably a little more complicated than what I make (though that isn't saying much). This is a definite must for francophilies.

This is a wonderful memoir by American writer, Elizabeth Bard. She writes a thoughtful story about the biggest decisions in her life - love, marriage, career - with Paris as the back drop. It is a love story, yes, but probably not like the love story you're thinking of. Yes, the love of her life, (her boyfriend, fiance, husband as it happens through the course of the book) Gwendal, and her life with him is the basis of the book, but this is just as easily a love story of family, food, art and Paris. Amazon is getting really good at recommending books for me. This is one of their recommendations that I probably wouldn't have found without it. I adore this book because, even though we don't travel similar paths in life, Bard and I have similar (universal?) feelings about life's big events - and of course, there's that love of food and cooking. I immediately became immersed in the writing. Bard articulates her love story with Gwendal so well that I feel it with her. You feel her anxiety about moving to and living in Paris. And the food. Bard is unafraid to make and eat new things, like me, she dives right in and is willing to try anything. I love the recipes in this book too! Each chapter has at least two (sometimes several), including both French and American. I highly recommend the summer ratatouille at the end of Chapter 12, I'm not kidding! It's worth the price of the book alone! Bard's description of Paris - its people, its markets, its food - has kept this book stored in my head for months. And what has made me read it twice in the past year. I feel a genuine escape as I read it. One that I just can't let go of. For me, that's a mark of a great book.

I was hesitant to purchase this book after reading the reviews which opined that there was too much sex and too much cleavage. But I love all things French, so I ordered it anyway. It was a good read. Not great literature, but a lighthearted frolic. The sex was really only hinted at, and the remarks about cleavage were insignificant. I am 61 years old and was not put off by that. I plan to try some of the recipes, though I did not purchase the book for that reason alone. Having visited France several times, and having a daughter who is going through a similar experience there, are the reasons that compelled me to read this book. Bard's jabs at bureaucracy are humorous and all too real! There are some sad and poignant moments in the book, of which I will only say that they were handled well. No spoiler here!

Food and Paris - what better combination of topics for a book! Although the content was a little light, and I had jet lag from the confusing number of trips between Paris and New York that Elizabeth took (and her mother took in the other direction), the recipes that are woven into the story more than compensate. This is a story of how food (and cooking) helped Elizabeth settle into life in France and build a relationship with her new French family. If only she had made the recipes available electronically - I will have to copy down the ones I want to try before I lend my book to anyone - or maybe that was her clever idea to boost booksales!

I LOVED this book! I had found the second one at another retailer, but really wanted to read the first one before I got into the second and I’m so glad I did. I was engaged right away, laughed my head off, want to eat everything described and of course wanted to move their immediately. Ended up buying all of her books because she is a gem!

Great book and recipes really work.Get a flavour of french cooking made simple Have it on my cookbook shelf. Sent copies to friends .to try out the recipes too!

A charming, hilarious, and soulful tale of adventure, self-discovery and love. Read it and then run, don't walk, to get the sequel - A Picnic in Provence. The descriptions of meals, however small, are mouth-watering and make one enormously grateful for the accompanying recipes.

Great little book. Recipes, guide to the city. Fun read.

Fun book to give to a friend traveling to Paris !!!