Paris Cocktails: An Elegant Collection of Over 100 Recipes Inspired by the City of Light

by Doni Belau

An elegant collection of over 100 cocktail recipes inspired by the City of Light.

Bring the romance and elegance of Paris into your home with cocktail recipes from leading French mixologists and the signature drink recipes of Parisian hot spots. More than just a cocktail book, Paris Cocktails celebrates the art of drinking like the French, with entertaining tips for throwing a perfectly Parisian cocktail party, revelations on the latest trends in French mixology, reviews of the best bars in both America and Paris where you can find the true French cocktail experience, and musings from French and non-French alike who have mastered the art of French drinking.

Genres: Cooking, Food and Drink, Reference, Nonfiction

272 pages, Hardcover

First published September 8, 2015

Reviews

[Jessica Offenberger (Lipowski) · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, let me say how much I enjoyed reading “Paris Cocktails” by Doni Belau. The second I cracked open the book and started reading, I developed a renewed desire to travel to Paris. Thanks to Doni’s elegantly written descriptions and witty wording, combined with perfectly-paired imagery and illustrations, I wanted to be right there alongside the author, sipping a cocktail in the city where many famous writers have called home. Her phrases capture the essence of cocktails perfectly, as “art in a glass” and the whole experience a “very tasty theatre, where bartender and patron alike are learning something new every day.”

Not only is this book ideal to have on hand for the times you want to indulge your creative side and produce a spectacular cocktail concoction, as it is filled with mouthwatering recipes, the book is also informational, detailing facts such as who invented which cocktails as well as general history and knowledge about alcoholic beverages and usage.

Additionally, the book serves as a terrific guide to Paris for both locals and visitors alike, whether you are looking for a certain cocktail, a specific atmosphere vibe or location with a spectacular view. As she visited 50 bars in six weeks, Doni highlights and categorizes the best places to go in Paris. Doni even describes many unique establishments, like a bar in an old train station or another in a bookstore. Plus there is something for everyone, from sweet and savory flavors to budget and high-end prices. Moreover, for those that have difficulty deciding, the “Best of the Best” section adds Doni’s own personal reflection, stating which cocktails and bar tenders for instance she favored. This opinion is a nice touch, with so many wonderful options outlined in the book.

Finally, I love the way she suggests events for one to host. I won’t give away too much, but a “Midnight in Paris” themed evening is one of the ideas. Many of these gatherings I’d like to try hosting myself.

[Maria Cloos · Rating 3 out of 5]

For starters, this book is beautiful! The photography alone is gorgeous. But the downside is that there are no captions, and it’s obvious that the photos don’t necessarily match up to what’s described nearby. (For example, a photo of a gold-colored drink is matched to a drink with a pink color. But this is only the best example, not the only instance of this occurring.) The recipes range from things most cocktail enthusiasts stock (in fact, when it was time for me to make myself a new drink, I simply made the one on the page I happened to be reading) to absurd expectations. Sometimes she gives a suggestion for how to make your own version of something, but it’s 100% obvious that she didn’t actually try it, nor does she provide enough concrete instructions to ensure success. And she doesn’t seem familiar with the correct manner of writing a recipe. Ingredients should be listed by order in which they’re used, then by volume/weight in descending order, not just a random list. All ingredients should be included in the list. There shouldn’t be a surprise when reading the instructions. Decent editing might have helped with inane apostrophe use, run-on sentences and sentences that made no sense, and incorrect (and also inconsistent) spelling. I did appreciate all of the fun bar listings, and that she included places in Paris and elsewhere. All said, it’s a nice edition to my cocktail book collection, but it could have been so much better.

[Dawnmarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tried one drink from this book already and it was so good, can’t wait to try more