Countryside Cooking

I have been sitting on creating this post because I wanted to try a handful of recipes ahead of time. Then, I forgot about posting and I came across Mimi Thorisson’s French Country Cooking (a storytelling recipe book) again over the holidays and decided to write this post.  

From succulent poultry to seafood, you will find fantastic regional food to indulge in and learn about the author as well as the French in the process. Even though I am very keen on French cooking since my mum cooked it occasionally but to be honest, I have not cooked much French cuisine myself really at all. Only in the past two years have I prepared the most French style cooking in my kitchen, beyond homemade macarons. I was only partial to French style baking, more for technique, that is until I read this book.

This was one of the loveliest French country style cookery books I’ve seen in a long while with very approachable recipes. Ingredients range from everyday items to speciality grocer listed items. The recipes are simple and inviting, many dishes reminded me of sitting at the long family table when my parents would entertain, even on weeknights with their friends. There could be a simple homemade bread but there was something so special about everyone being around the table conversing and eating together. Thorisson’s book brings fond memories of her childhood to life and interesting people crossing her path with inspiration through her cooking. The book brings a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ to the kitchen that naturally the French can do so well. 

“This book is the book that wrote itself.” Mimi Thorisson 

I really enjoy books that express an author’s personality, and it’s even better when there’s such a fine story of history with beautiful details unfolding with every page turned. This book does just that and begins with a lovely tale of how Thorisson and her husband came upon the place they call home, it was mere fate, the author shares. 

The home is a generously spacious one in a little French village, St Yzans, a place that caters well beyond what you’d probably imagine a traditional home in the country to be. Did I mention that their wonderful grand old home, No 1 Rue De Loudenne also has a restaurant? The old house they bought used to be a restaurant long ago and she and her family decided to revive it once more in their own way. 

If you haven’t figured it out by now, yes, I adored this book very much—it‘s certainly one to have in any Francophile‘s culinary arsenal. This is why this cookery book deserved its own post. 

Buy This …  

If you enjoy being in the kitchen baking and cooking, period. 

If you are a seasoned cook, a home cook, or anyone who aspires to cook gourmet dishes that not only look incredible but are actually good, you will love this.  

Caution: If you don’t know your way around the kitchen or if you don’t have any ramekins, cast-iron skillet, deep baking dish, and a Dutch oven in your possession, then you might want to sit this one out. However, there’s no time like the present to take on the challenge.  

 I was given an advanced copy of this book via the publisher. As always, all opinions are expressed honestly and my own.