A Book For Lovers Of France & French Food

Having proposed to his French girlfriend, food writer William Black revisits the France he fell in love with as a young man. Travelling with his native guide from Paris to the districts, Black meets the most interesting characters and places, giving him a glimpse into the French soul. Full of wonderful travel writing, historical anecdotes and essential, traditional recipes, this is the book for everyone who loves France and French food.

What is it about the French that causes them to be so blinkered about their food?

Plats du Jour is an attempt to answer that question, as William Black explores the highways and byways of French cooking. Taking as his starting point the great tradition of French food, William tackles years of received wisdom and parochial food snobbery head on, though with his mind (and his mouth) firmly open... He eats tête de veau and fried cow’s udder with his French fiancé’s family near Orléans. He samples the dubious (and illegal) delights of ortolan in the south west and has the most painfully disappointing gastronomic experience of his life. He combs the beaches of Brittany for seafood and is chased away from a festival by an enraged Basque villager. His dedication to the culinary cause knows few bounds.

Plats du Jour is a highly entertaining and irreverent look at the world's greatest culinary tradition. It is required reading for anyone with an interest in food and cooking...

William Black is the author of AL DENTE and THE LAND THAT THYME FORGOT and the co-author with Sophie Grigson of several bestselling books: Fish, Organic and Travels à la Carte. He was the winner of the Glenfiddich award for his television programme Matters of Taste and he has sourced ingredients (fish in particular) for many of the UK’s finest restaurants. He lives in Oxfordshire.

William Black, Plats Du Jour, Published by Bantam Press 7th May, £16.99 hbk.