My French Family Table: Recipes for a Life Filled with Food, Love, and Joie de Vivre

by Béatrice Peltre

From celebrated author and blogger Béatrice Peltre comes a much anticipated second book, focusing on everyday foods (all gluten-free) to share with family and friends .

To the French, food is one of life’s greatest pleasures, and in Béatrice Peltre’s home, each meal is a small celebration. In her kitchen, bright, colorful ingredients are transformed into wholesome, delicious dishes and served with love. Here, Béatrice’s relaxed, modern approach to classic French cooking meets the challenge of creating healthy meals for the whole family—meals to be shared à table , presented with grace and style.
 
In My French Family Table, Béatrice offers a beautiful assortment of over 120 recipes for naturally gluten-free dishes that feature whole grains, colorful produce, and distinctive spices. Every meal is an inspired work of love—from breakfast dishes such as Buttermilk, Lemon, and Strawberry Brunch Cake to a lunch of French Green Bean Salad with Croûtons , Olives, and Ricotta Salata alongside a healthy soup or vegetable tart. In the afternoon Béatrice loves to eat the traditional French goûter with her daughter, Lulu, whose favorite snack is Brown Butter Madeleines with Buckwheat and Chocolate Chips . Who could resist a Sunday supper of Chicken Stuffed with Herbs, Walnuts, and Grainy Mustard , followed by the sweet treat of Baked Apricots with Lemon Verbena or the indulgent Chocolate Mousse with Salted Caramel and Matcha Tea Cookies ? Béatrice also includes recipes that are particularly child-friendly to cook and eat, inspired by her kitchen adventures with Lulu.
 
With her creative use of ingredients, Béatrice ups the ante on what family foods can be—incredibly tasty, beautiful, and nourishing. Béatrice’s signature bright photography, impeccable styling, and sweet storytelling make My French Family Table an inspiring collection of recipes for feeding a family and feeding them well.

Genres: Cookbooks, Food, Cooking, Nonfiction, France, Memoir

392 pages, Hardcover

First published May 17, 2016

Reviews

[Carla · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a gluten-free cookbook, with some interesting food combinations. I have a quibble, which seems to be true of other gf cookbooks-many of the recipes involve baking,combining many different non-wheat flours,etc, with long lists of ingredients. The dessert section (pies, cakes, muffins, pastries)is huge. Why spend so much time and effort substituting, instead of enjoying all the yummy gluten-free foods that are available as themselves?

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of beautifully presented recipes and photographs is written in a conversational, non-pretentious style, as if having some afternoon tea and discussion with the author. Being a gluten-free cookbook, many recipes require various types of alternative flours and nut meals that the average cook probably doesn't have in their pantry, and many of them require quite a few steps in preparation, using a number of different cooking implements. I view that as a challenge in my cooking journey, a chance to expand my experience and hopefully build my skills, unlike other reviewers who see it as an impediment. Quite a few of these recipes will go on my "want-to-cook" list.

[Janka H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This a gluten-free cookbook the French style!
I am not a gluten-free eating person, so I need to admit I care more for the recipe that do not need the more specific type of flour - soups, salads, some sweets or other dishes. Here I like the creativity, yet some recipes here call for too many ingredients for my lifestyle (or I a simply am I lazy girl :)). So I probably will use some of the less-ingredients recipe. They still are mouth-watering when reading!

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do not follow a gluten-free diet, but occasionally cook gluten-free and this cookbook is full of beautiful photographs and lovely French recipes. I enjoyed reading Beatrice's writing and personal asides but haven't had a chance to try any recipes out, but they seem approachable for the home cook and relatively unfussy.

[Jenny Wren · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you write a gluten-free cookbook, then label it as such. Ms. Peltre should have listened to her editor. I wasted my time on this book as my family has no reason to avoid gluten so recipes using five different kinds of non-wheat floors that I didn't stock in my kitchen are useless to me. As the reader, I feel as though the author lied to me or tried to trick me.

[Gigi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The photographs, the styling, is beautiful. A work of art. As it turns out, this is a French, gluten-free cookbook. I have a feeling these recipes would taste lovely, but I must admit I didn't make any.

[Dray · Rating 4 out of 5]

i was pleasantly surprised by this cookbook as it has a lot of vegetarian recipes. The book does have a distinct french flair and does have a meat recipes section, but there is a lot of fresh vegetable dishes as well.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely book. I have her first one and this one is just as nice.

[R]

My French Family Table by Beatrice Peltre
For those who love beautiful food, with vibrant photos and a story to match , this book is for you. Peltre's take on fabulous French delites with a modern twist contains gorgeous recipes including the summer ratatouille and chocolate raspberry tart , that tantalise the tastebuds making it impossible to pick what to cook next. Her chapter 'Cooking with Lulu' is a nice touch. It highlights the importance of food and family .which is present throughout the whole cookbook. the fact that these recipes are gluten free is so seamlessly interwoven, good food is the focus , rather than the dietary requirement. Ultimately this book is a beautiful French cookbook that conveys the authors love and memories of food & family in each of the delicious recipes it delivers.

[Cathy]

Beautiful photography, delicious recipes.

[Critterbee❇ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full of love, great for a family cookbook. This was obviously a labour of love and it was a pleasure to read.

**eARC netgalley**

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't eat any of this, but it's a beautiful book!

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like these recipes, but they require more time than I have right now. Also, a little heavy on the cilantro for me.

[Beka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absolutely gorgeous! The recipes don't speak to me, but the book is completely lovely.

[Riegs · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this is mostly for the Whole Foods people... Recipes required many specialty ingredients (even for gluten-free), and single-use equipment. Lifestyle content was super hokey. Photography was at least good.

[Dawnmarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t wait to start cooking from this book I have all my pages marked