Cover Image: French Cooking for Beginners

French Cooking for Beginners

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I would like to thank Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This was a great recipe book to read. The pictures are great. I can't wait to try the Cheese Fondue that's in this book. I loved that this book had a section at the back where to could add your own recipes.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC! I absolutely loved how beginner the recipes seems to be in this book and the colorful images bring it all together. French cooking has always been a bit of an intimidating culinary art, so I'm excited to try these recipes that look fairly easy to try as a way to get into french cooking.

Was this review helpful?

French Cooking for Beginners by Claudine Pepin is such a charming cookbook. I loved it. I loved the watercolors throughout with the spectacular photographs of France. The recipes are simple and not too involved. I made Claudine's 'Clafoutis' since it's cherry season and it did not disappoint. Only nine ingredients and it was deliciously scrumptious. There is a category for the four seasons. And a beautiful blank recipe pages at the end. The writing on the side is short and to the point.

La seule chose que je pourrais ajouter, c'est que sur la recette, il n'y a pas de mesure du temps que la recette prendra. Cela pourrait être utile avant de commencer une recette. Mais à part ça, le livre est une merveilleuse introduction à la cuisine française. Veuillez pardonner mon français, je ne parle pas très bien.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Quarto Publishing for the opportunity to read French Cooking for Beginners by Claudine Pepin.

Was this review helpful?

This is such a great cookbook for people interested in learning about French cuisine! The recipes are simple yet delicious. Also, it is great learning from Claudine Pepin!

Was this review helpful?

I love French food, but I am short on time these days so I thought a beginners book might offer some more simple recipes. I was right. This book is great for both beginners and for someone who doesn't have hours to spend in the kitchen. I loved the inclusion of beautiful pictures which I find helpful in cookbooks to make sure I get the final product just right. I absolutely love the recipes and can't wait to try them out!

Was this review helpful?

I’ve never really had French food, so when I saw the title of this book, I knew I needed to read It, and have a go at the recipes! Each recipe has clear step by step instructions with accompanying photographs to guide you through. They don’t need too many ingredients, are easily achievable in your own kitchen, and there’s a wide variety to suit all tastes. I love that Claudine’s inspiration and love for her family shines through the pages. The additional section to write your own recipes / notes at the back is a great additional touch, and I LOVE the inclusion of the family photo. Proper authentic family French cooking, done simply - what more could you want?

Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group – Quarry and Netgalley for an eARC of this book to read and review

Was this review helpful?

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I loved this cookbook and felt like it was written well, It was easy to read, the pictures were enticing and the instructions were easy to follow. I do feel like this is the beginning of my Julie and Julia moment. Love it!

Was this review helpful?

I thought this was a delightful cookbook from a trusted source—Claudine Pepin. There are small whimsical illustrations and a full page color photo for each recipe. This cookbook does not include every possible French recipe, but rather a curated collection of small dishes, main dishes, side dishes, and desserts. It's 30 solid recipes in total.

I thought that was a good amount for a beginner cookbook, which is what this is. Classic recipes include gourges, cauliflower souffle, cheese fondue, beef Bourguignon, ham & leek quiche, sables, almond cake, and more.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC!

Was this review helpful?

I'm loving this series of recipe books and looking forward to cooking more food, recipes and meals from some great countries.

Again, as with some of the other books in this series, this book is filled with everything you want and need in order to make great French food. It is fresh, it is classic, it is real food and it is delicious. And the recipes are easy to follow and easy to make.

The photos are great and make you fell hungry and ready to get in the kitchen and start cooking.

Loving this book and looking forward to cooking all the recipes soon. And I would recommend this book not just for beginners but for everyone who wants to try something new and tasty. The ingredients are simple, everyday ingredients, fresh and you don't have to hunt down strange bits and pieces you have never heard of which is great too,

More cooking is on the cards and I can't wait to work my way through the recipes in this lovely book.

Was this review helpful?

Interested in French Cuisine?
Claudine Pépin is an award-wining chef and daughter of world-renowned chef, Jacques Pépin. She is presenting her book "French Cooking for Beginners. Simple and Delicious Recipes for French Food for Any Meal". The book is one of the books in the series "... Cooking for Beginners", published by Quarto Publishing Group – Quarry (New Shoe Press). It is divided into four sections: 1) To Start, 2) To Continue, 3) On the Side, and 4) To Finish. Based on her personal experience as an eleven-year old, Pépin tells her readers about the recipes: "Please feel free to experiment and adapt these recipes to suit your family. You may discover happy accidents along the way" (p. 12). She introduces every section with some personal thoughts.
The book is presented with a great design. It also offers menus, an index, and space for own recipes. Notes throughout the book are also helpful. It is for the lovers of Spanish food or those who are interested to gain more knowledge about it. It is simple and easy for beginners. I appreciate that this book gives the measurements in spoons/cups/ounces/pounds as well as in grams and milliliters as well as the temperatures in °F and in °C.
I knew about the French Cuisine, but this book still provided new information for me. I find this book very interesting and consequently recommend it for readers who are interested in French recipes and for those who look for new inspirations.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#FrenchCookingForBeginners #Netgalley

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for honest feedback. I absolutely loved this cookbook. I was impressed by the photography and high quality layout/pictures. I think the recipes were also quite surprising because I have read other French cook books and wasn't really into a lot of the foods they were presenting. These dishes look great and seem easier to make in this book. I really, really, really loved the photography. Cookbooks nowadays need to be visually interesting imo as well as informative because of the internet. I really loved this one's pictures and they inspire you to cook what is presented. Greatly done.

Was this review helpful?

If you are someone new to French cooking or to its patron saint, Julia Child, you may find yourself wanting to jump in and give it a try too. But when you see that the cookbook most often used as a reference for mastering the food is a 2-volume set, each volume thick as a textbook, then you may feel intimidated and give up. That’s why this cookbook is so perfect. Claudine Pepin brings a handful of recipes, written with clear instructions, and full of authentic French flavor. No intimidation here, just good food presented in a way that beginners can find success with.

Claudine Pepin is the daughter of chef Jacques Pepin, who was good friends with Julia Child, cooking with her and sharing a television show with her. He was born in France, and he understands that a lot of the most delicious French cooking is based on fresh ingredients treated well. That is what he taught his daughter, and that is what she offers in these recipes.

French Cooking for Beginners is just that, a handful of recipes for appetizers, main dishes, sides, and desserts that will let you cook and eat French without fear. She can take a classic recipe like Whole Roasted Chicken with Herbs of Provence and explain it in a way that even an inexperienced cook could prepare it (it’s just a chicken, salt, pepper, herbs of Provence, garlic, and water) and come to the dinner table with a flavorful chicken that is crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. You could start with the Cauliflower Soufflé, serve the chicken with the Potato and Cheese Gratin or the Spinach in Béchamel, finish with a Clafoutis (a cherry dessert), and you have created a delicious meal that will impress friends and family.

There are a variety of recipes for each course. For starter ideas, there are Gougeres (cheese puffs), her grandmother’s twist on a deviled egg Eggs Jeannette, Cauliflower Soufflé, or the classic potato and leek soup Vichyssoise. Mains include French classics like Boeuf Bourguignon, Chicken in Cream Sauce, Claudine’s Croque Monsieur, Salade Nicoise, or Sautéed White Fish and Secret Sauce. There’s also the Chicken Breast with Garlic and Parsley, Lamb Chops with Lemon Zest and Herbs of Provence, and Pepin’s favorite celebration dinner, Cheese Fondue.

For sides, Pepin offers recipes for Sautéed French Chard, French String Beans, Parsnip-Potato Puree, Ratatouille, Roasted Cauliflower, Herb-Roasted Potatoes, and a salad topping Vinaigrette for a Week. And to finish off the meal there is an assortment of desserts, like an Almond Cake, Crème Brulée, Crepes, Apple Tarts with Almond Frangipane, classic cookie Sables, and even an American Blueberry Pie.

These recipes offer up simple French dishes with amazing flavor, but they’re also stepping stones for learning basic French techniques and adding flavor to other dishes moving forward. Yes, there is a recipe for a Ham and Leek Quiche, and once you’ve learned how to do that, you can create your own quiche with your own signature flavors. You can put the Secret Sauce on other dishes, cook other greens with the Béchamel, and add the Vinaigrette for a Week on any number of foods.

But more then just recipes and menu ideas, this cookbook is packed with heart and family. The illustrations throughout are from Pepin’s daughter and father. There are photos of France for inspiration and stories throughout of cooking, of holidays, of family meals, and memories of growing up in the Pepin household. Pepin’s French Cooking for Beginners is more than a primer on French cooking. It’s a glimpse into the home of a French chef.

Egalleys for French Cooking for Beginners were provided by Quarto Publishing Group (New Shoe Press) through NetGalley, with many thanks.

Was this review helpful?

Good book for beginners. Some recipes are very simple, even kids can use them. Nice quality pictures for every dish. Recipes adapted for American users.

Was this review helpful?

This is a lovely book with recipes for some of the most classic dishes in French cuisine. Targeted at beginner cooks or those who want a technique refresher, the instructions are clear and detailed. The photos that accompany the recipes are exquisite, as are the images of France that are sprinkled throughout the book. A great gift for the new cook, or to add to anyone's shelf.

Was this review helpful?

These recipes were delicious and just like the Spanish book in this series, the desserts were a real highlight! Not too many recipes so not overwhelming.

Was this review helpful?

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. Beautiful photos and videos he recipes sound amazing! I can't wait to try some of the food.

Was this review helpful?

I just love going through books that indicate they are for beginner’s! French cooking with some very delicious looking dishes! It was a simple cookbook with some very beginner dishes and some pictures of France.

What did I like? The cover is very attractive. Creme Brûlée caught my eye because how can something so delish be a beginner dish. Every recipe has a gorgeous picture, and I just wish there were more recipes. All in all a charming cookbook!

Would I recommend or buy? The recipes were pretty basic but if you needed to cook French in a pinch it would do. It is decidedly beginner. Still I would love a copy and am definitely putting this on a wish list. Four stars!

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher to read and voluntarily left a review!

Was this review helpful?

A beautifully presented recipe book. The photos are a perfect snap shot of France. The recipes are easy to follow, have easy to acquire ingredients and the photos of the food just make you want to get cooking.
Wonderful addition to anyones cookery book collection.

Was this review helpful?

I recently watched two TV series that focused on Julia Child. So, this French recipe collection for home cooks came along at just the right time for me.

This title’s recipes are organized by course. We begin with To Start, followed by To Continue, On the Side, and To Finish. An example from each section includes Cauliflower Souffle, Beef Bourguignon, Spinach in Bechamel, and finally, Clafoutis. So, pretty traditional yet wonderful recipes are found within these pages.

This book has beautiful photographs throughout. There are also lovely drawings.

The credit for this title belongs fully with the author. I note though that her father is Jacques Pepin. Oh, what a family!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group-Quarry for this title. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a helpful book!

There are some great recipes in this book and some interesting French dishes. I wish there were more pictures of the finished food throughout the book. The instructions are clear and feel fairly accessible and there's a variety of recipes to try.

Overall it's a nice recipe book.

Was this review helpful?