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A Little Bite of Happiness
42 stories about food and its simple pleasures
24 recipes from a French pastry chef
Food is vital. It sustains us. And yet it also comes to define us. It expresses who we are and want to be. It anchors memories. It provides rituals. It is sensual. It can pleasure and surprise us.
In this book of stories, myths, dreams and recipes, V.P Colombo uses food as a metaphor to explore the human psyche, relationships and life in all its beauty and complexity. Here you’ll meet a lemon as a character in a story, a madeleine as folklore, journey through gardens of roses and get to know vanilla in a way that you never expected.
There are authentic French recipes too. From chocolate mousse to tarte aux pommes, learn how to bake all the classic desserts you’ll ever need to know simply and successfully.
24 recipes from a French pastry chef
Food is vital. It sustains us. And yet it also comes to define us. It expresses who we are and want to be. It anchors memories. It provides rituals. It is sensual. It can pleasure and surprise us.
In this book of stories, myths, dreams and recipes, V.P Colombo uses food as a metaphor to explore the human psyche, relationships and life in all its beauty and complexity. Here you’ll meet a lemon as a character in a story, a madeleine as folklore, journey through gardens of roses and get to know vanilla in a way that you never expected.
There are authentic French recipes too. From chocolate mousse to tarte aux pommes, learn how to bake all the classic desserts you’ll ever need to know simply and successfully.
184 pages, Paperback
First published December 16, 2016
1 person is currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
V.P. Colombo
1 book8 followersAustralian author.
Parisian born and bred French pastry chef, V.P Colombo, currently lives in Sydney where she founded and ran Fleur de Sel, a homemade cake and desserts business, before dedicating her time to writing. Her macarons, like all her food created without artificial colourings and preservatives, were much loved at the Balmain market in Sydney, as were her scrumptious dessert tables created for weddings.
V.P left Paris, via Singapore, to arrive in Sydney in 2010, and stayed in Australia to create stability for her daughter. The challenges of immigration were compounded by severe depression and life threatening food allergies. A Little Bite of Happiness emerged through this period as these challenges, combined with her passion for food, sparked her imagination as a writer. The resulting book, her first, is an homage to food, sensuality, love, loss and simply life in all its glory.
Parisian born and bred French pastry chef, V.P Colombo, currently lives in Sydney where she founded and ran Fleur de Sel, a homemade cake and desserts business, before dedicating her time to writing. Her macarons, like all her food created without artificial colourings and preservatives, were much loved at the Balmain market in Sydney, as were her scrumptious dessert tables created for weddings.
V.P left Paris, via Singapore, to arrive in Sydney in 2010, and stayed in Australia to create stability for her daughter. The challenges of immigration were compounded by severe depression and life threatening food allergies. A Little Bite of Happiness emerged through this period as these challenges, combined with her passion for food, sparked her imagination as a writer. The resulting book, her first, is an homage to food, sensuality, love, loss and simply life in all its glory.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 7, 2017
Virginie has written this to me on the title page..
'To Suzanne, may these stories take you to a delicious and yet mysterious world'.
After having met her, I'm very intrigued. She is quirky and vibrant! This should be good <3
Post reading:
This was as quirky as Virginie. Cute and cheeky stories with a twist, combined with heartfelt stories of her past - raising her daughter, living a Parisian life! This would have been a fun process to write I imagine, and I enjoyed the funny stories combined with the quirkiness.
I can't cook though - how depressing! Maybe V needs to give me some lessons. Lovers of fine food with a story behind it would really like this.
Thanks for my copy Virginie, I can see your bubbles of personality shine through here. I'm green with good envy how the author has such creativity and vision - oh, and did I say she can cook? I went to a French patisserie on the weekend, had the most gorgeous crepes. It is honestly like an art form...
There is something here to suit tastes of all shapes and sizes. Comedy, culinary, history. Sensuality. Bon Appetite everyone!
Post reading:
This was as quirky as Virginie. Cute and cheeky stories with a twist, combined with heartfelt stories of her past - raising her daughter, living a Parisian life! This would have been a fun process to write I imagine, and I enjoyed the funny stories combined with the quirkiness.
I can't cook though - how depressing! Maybe V needs to give me some lessons. Lovers of fine food with a story behind it would really like this.
Thanks for my copy Virginie, I can see your bubbles of personality shine through here. I'm green with good envy how the author has such creativity and vision - oh, and did I say she can cook? I went to a French patisserie on the weekend, had the most gorgeous crepes. It is honestly like an art form...
There is something here to suit tastes of all shapes and sizes. Comedy, culinary, history. Sensuality. Bon Appetite everyone!
July 7, 2017
Sensuous writing and delectable recipes reside together in V.P.Colombo's charming book, 'A Little Bite of Happiness'.
Colombo is a Parisian-born pastry chef (now based in Sydney) who has given us gorgeous reading in her part cookbook, part memoir. Bursting with authentic French recipes and vignettes of creative writing, 'A Little Bite of Happiness' will delight lovers of sumptuous food and romantic short stories.
My favourite part is when Virginie admits her addiction to cheese! A fellow cheese addict is always welcome. Bravo Virginie on giving the world such a unique book filled with your wonderful recipes and stories. Highly recommended.
Colombo is a Parisian-born pastry chef (now based in Sydney) who has given us gorgeous reading in her part cookbook, part memoir. Bursting with authentic French recipes and vignettes of creative writing, 'A Little Bite of Happiness' will delight lovers of sumptuous food and romantic short stories.
My favourite part is when Virginie admits her addiction to cheese! A fellow cheese addict is always welcome. Bravo Virginie on giving the world such a unique book filled with your wonderful recipes and stories. Highly recommended.
June 6, 2017
This was such an enjoyable, lovely book. Unique too, I've never come across a recipe book like it before. The method of the recipe is often encapsulated within the short story, or vignette, that goes with it. Certainly the simpler ones anyway. The recipe consists of just the ingredients and measurements. It's a really fun way to read about it, though a little extra thought is required in the actual following of it.
The other thing I particularly liked was the stories with ingredients personified. In these days of convenience stores and supermarkets it's easy to forget the exotic history of something like vanilla or lemons. This book made me look at them differently, as precious flavours not to be taken for granted.
There is also a great mix of easy and harder recipes. The words 'Parisian pastry chef' can sound a bit scary to the less confident cook, but don't be put off. We aren't just talking macaroons and profiteroles, those there is some of that too. There's also hot chocolate, Madeleine's and clafoutis. I highly recommend this book, whether you are an experienced cook or not! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to make Pain Perdu.
The other thing I particularly liked was the stories with ingredients personified. In these days of convenience stores and supermarkets it's easy to forget the exotic history of something like vanilla or lemons. This book made me look at them differently, as precious flavours not to be taken for granted.
There is also a great mix of easy and harder recipes. The words 'Parisian pastry chef' can sound a bit scary to the less confident cook, but don't be put off. We aren't just talking macaroons and profiteroles, those there is some of that too. There's also hot chocolate, Madeleine's and clafoutis. I highly recommend this book, whether you are an experienced cook or not! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to make Pain Perdu.
February 27, 2017
Once you start, you won't want to put it down!
Very different to anything I have read before. A delightful book of short stories, with recipes to great food all throughout the book.
Don't want to give too much away; but using and depicting food as the characters in the short stories is incredibly interesting and refreshing, never seen before.
Very different to anything I have read before. A delightful book of short stories, with recipes to great food all throughout the book.
Don't want to give too much away; but using and depicting food as the characters in the short stories is incredibly interesting and refreshing, never seen before.
August 27, 2017
I had been looking for a special gift for my sister in law, and after glancing through the first few pages, I knew I had found just that. Personally, I'm not into cooking. So when I started reading 'A Little Bite of Happiness' (both out of curiosity, and also to make sure it was a good gift for my SIL) and found that I couldn't stop, I was surprised. It's fabulous! Intriguing, and different to anything I've read before. I love it.
Many thanks to the author who was efficient (it arrived in just 2 days) and also even went to the trouble of adding a personalised handwritten message for my SIL at my request.
I can already think of another woman it will be perfect for, so I will be ordering again.
Many thanks to the author who was efficient (it arrived in just 2 days) and also even went to the trouble of adding a personalised handwritten message for my SIL at my request.
I can already think of another woman it will be perfect for, so I will be ordering again.
August 20, 2018
Absolutely amazing!! i was lucky enough to mine signed by Ms Colombo "From a Chef to Another Chef, forget all you know about food and let yourself in my realm of pleasure"
probably the most engaging book I've picked up, is food even a metaphor?!?! personally as someone that works in a kitchen, I will think of ingredients in a different way. The way how worlds cross over works perfectly.
The recipes definitely hit the spot!! the Lovers Chocolate mousse is just next level! but this is much more than a recipe book. The stories ups the ante readers curiosity on all aspects in Life, Love & Cooking and shows how it all can relate.
Bravo Ms Colombo i wasn't sure if it was partly a adult novel or just a masterpiece that i have never delved into. Definitely a must read for the curious cats!
probably the most engaging book I've picked up, is food even a metaphor?!?! personally as someone that works in a kitchen, I will think of ingredients in a different way. The way how worlds cross over works perfectly.
The recipes definitely hit the spot!! the Lovers Chocolate mousse is just next level! but this is much more than a recipe book. The stories ups the ante readers curiosity on all aspects in Life, Love & Cooking and shows how it all can relate.
Bravo Ms Colombo i wasn't sure if it was partly a adult novel or just a masterpiece that i have never delved into. Definitely a must read for the curious cats!
February 6, 2018
A writer who “gets” food in all its beauty, complexity and diversity. The recipes made my mouth water ... as did the sensual way in which VP Colombo uses description to tease and tempt the senses.
January 23, 2020
It's not everyday that a book arrives and I want to dive in fully and read every page. There's something beautiful and passionate about this book that fills you with joy and wonder. It's a wonderful read with some wonderful food, definitely worth picking up
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews