Provence: An Accidental Gourmet's Sketchbook

by John Davis

This book is an attempt in words and pictures to describe places as they are today. Hopefully these impressions are not overly rose-tinted, as Provence is hardly the timeless jewel many would have us believe (in fact, things are moving faster here than almost anywhere else in France), but--and it's a big but--there's still nowhere quite like it. You can still find, without much difficulty, food of the utmost simplicity, in flavours and colours as powerful and as vibrant as the landscape. A morning spent in an open-air market has often rewarded me with not only a groaning basket of vegetables and herbs, but also an eagerly offered recipe to accompany them, a handful of which are included in this book.

However, this is not merely a cookbook. You will, for instance, learn how to play the Provencal game of boules, as well as learning what not to wear when having lunch at the Grand Hotel du Cap; how a dish of boiled garlic offers an effective cure for a hangover, but how the genius of Picasso managed it even quicker. And that for me, Provence was at its most captivating not in the dappled light of summer, but under a blanket of snow one Christmas Day.

Genres: France, Art

96 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

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Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the perfect bedtime read. Lots of fabulous illustrations and wonderfully evocative writing that takes you to the heart of the South of France. You can feel the sunshine, smell the fresh bread, and enjoy the all delightful characters that cross your path in this quirky and heartfelt ode to Provence. There is lots of eating – from snacks to feasts. Plus several luscious but easily do-able recipes are given too. The pictures complement the writing perfectly…..adding enormously to mood of the book…. The connection between drawing and writing is outstanding here.



The author is excellent at capturing little behaviours that speak a lifestyle. Here he is talking about the prerequisites for boules.

“Now all you have to do ……is begin drinking a little earlier in the day, and – if not already hooked – start smoking. (During play, the dedicated boulist smokes only untipped brands, usually Gitanes or Gauloises Caporal, but if you insist on being a wimp, Craven ‘A’ cork tipped are tolerated.)



For me the highlight of the book is the drawings. I love the medium of coloured pencils, and you very seldom see them used, either in books or in artwork generally. This book is full of masterly sketches.

My least favourite bit is that he mentions foie-gras as a delicacy four times, this in spite of saying “having watched geese force-fed with corn to swell their livers (which really is a ghastly business)”. Yes it IS a ghastly business. I didn’t mind that the book generally is a carnivore’s delight – I’m vegetarian - but I did mind about the foie-gras. In my view this guy is a good author and a good artist, but he needs to take a serious look at basic animal welfare issues.

Having said that, the book is generally a wonderful read.