About this item
A Taste of Paris is a delectable culinary history of the gastronomic capital of the world, written by David Downie, the critically acclaimed author of Paris, Paris and A Passion for Paris."A joyous romp through time . . . The streets and tables of Paris will never be the same and I could not be more grateful." -- Alice Waters In his trademark witty and informative style, David Downie embarks on a quest to discover "What is it about the history of Paris that has made it a food lover's paradise" Long before Marie Antoinette said, "Let them eat cake!" (actually, it was brioche) , the Romans of Paris devoured foie gras, and live oysters rushed in from the Atlantic; one Medieval cookbook describes a thirty-two part meal featuring hare stew, eel soup, and honeyed wine; during the last great banquet at Versailles a year before the Revolution the gourmand Louis XVI savored thirty-two main dishes and sixteen desserts; yet, in 1812, Grimod de la Reynire, the father of French gastronomy, regaled guests with fifty-two courses, fifteen wines, three types of coffee, and seventeen liqueurs.
About the Author
The secrets of why Paris is the most romantic city on Earth lie in the Romantic Age, and that's what my new book, A Passion for Paris: Romanticism and Romance in the City of Light, is about (spring 2015) . See you on book tour? Visit my website for details.
A native San Franciscan, I've called Paris home since 1986. I live and work in the Marais, and travel widely in France and Italy.
My travel, food, wine and arts features have appeared in over 50 leading print media worldwide. I've been contributing editor, European arts editor or Paris correspondent for half a dozen magazines.
I've also authored two apps: David Downie's Paris Timeline and David Downie's Food Wine Rome.
Starting with the most recent book first, Paris to the Pyrenees: A Skeptic Pilgrim Walks the Way of Saint James, was a bestseller, reaching #5 of all e-books. The little book that could is Paris, Paris: Journey into the City of Light, with striking black-and-white photography by Alison Harris (www.alisonharris.com) , now into its 10th printing.
Paris City of Night, a classic thriller set in Paris, is out in e-book format. My three critically acclaimed Terroir Guides--Food Wine Italian Riviera & Genoa, Rome, and Burgundy, plus Quiet Corners of Rome, include stunning photography by Alison Harris.
For bite-sized portions, try the dozen anthologies I've contributed to: the latest is An Innocent Abroad (edited by Don George) .
After nearly 30 years I still love living in Paris, Burgundy and Italy, and sharing my world with readers and private tour guests. Please visit www.davidddownie.com and my Paris, Paris Tours site: www.parisparistours.com. All the best, David
