The Provence Cookbook

by Patricia Wells

HarperCollins, April, 2004.
Hardcover, 352 pages.
ISBN: 0060507829

The Provence Cookbook by Patricia Wells

Noted American cookbook author Patricia Well has lived in Provence for twenty years. Her intense love of the French countryside, its people and its food leaps from every page of this lovely cookbook. Wells does more than share delicious recipes for cuisine a la Provencal, however. She imparts a wealth of knowledge about everything from truffles to olive oil to Provencal pottery. Ms. Wells' has a lively and intime writing style which makes the book feel more like a peek inside her personal journal than a cold, technical treatise. The recipes really focus on fresh ingredients, with a minimum of fuss so that the ingredients really shine through. There are 175 delicious recipes here, including Raoul's Summer Truffle Salad, Josiane's Fresh Goat Cheese With Provencal Herbs, Cauliflower Gratin, Robespierre Beef Domaine de la Ponche, Baked Arugula Omelet, Fresh Fig and Homemade Apricot Jam Tart and Three Pear Cake. Her section on specialty breads is small, but worthwhile. Menu and wine suggestions are also included. If you can't get to Provence, pick up a copy of The Provence Cookbook and enjoy the next best thing.

The Provence Cookbook is available for purchase on Amazon.com

Note: We may receive a commission from sales made through product links in this article.

This review was published in the July-August, 2004 of The Internet Writing Journal.