If you're the type that tends to over-romanticize the City of Lights, let David Lebovitz snap you back to reality. As an American expat who chose to move to France, he loves Paris—but he also has no qualms about exposing the ridiculous, baffling, and frustrating side of le France. (I still laugh when I think of his claim that he didn't REALLY feel like he belonged until the day he put on dress pants and a freshly ironed shirt to take out the trash). Lebovitz's niche is food writing, and while you'll hear plenty of stories of navigating the city, you'll also find food on nearly every page. Plan to be inspired to make (or at least eat) French favorites like warm goat cheese salad, chocolate mousse, and macarons. A perfect read for those who have lived in Paris, been to Paris, or just want a good laugh.

The publisher says this collection of stories and 100 recipes reflects the way Parisians eat and live today. I love Lebovitz's work.

David Lebovitz is one of those chef's whose cookbooks are full of delicious recipes and great stories. I can't wait to read his new book L'Appart. Grad this one from his back catalog while it's on sale--first time in over a year.

I've thoroughly enjoyed David Lebovitz's writings about Parisian expat life since falling in love with The Sweet Life in Paris many years ago. This 2018 memoir with recipes details his arduous journey to find, purchase, and renovate his very own Parisian apartment. In between renovation stories, he shares recipes from his kitchen. The curious traveler in me couldn’t help but map each and every real location in the book so I could accompany Lebovitz as he moved through Paris. As someone who used to work in the field of property law, I was fascinated by his descriptions of everything Parisian real estate: I ate up the details on how one searches for and acquires real estate in Paris. But I struggled to read about the massively time-consuming and expensive renovations: Lebovitz is a wonderful writer, but some of his renovation mishaps were so painful they verged on heartbreaking. Nevertheless I'm glad I picked it up, and thankful this book prompted me to revisit his blog and peruse the wonderful archives.