The Sweet Life in Paris: Living Vicariously through David Lebovitz

If you're thinking of traveling to Paris any time soon, you NEED to read David Lebovitz's The Sweet Life in Paris, carefully with pen and paper in hand to take notes and be prepared. And if you're not lucky enough to be contemplating a trip, then you should DEFINITELY read The Sweet Life in Paris as you will be transported to the City of Lights, or at least your taste buds will be.

Chapter by hilarious chapter, Lebovitz shares his experiences adapting to life as an American in Paris. Having grown up there and being half-French, I can attest to the fact that he depicts Parisians accurately, even as he bares some of their more unflattering idiosyncracies.

After reading the book, I finally fully understood my parents' horror when, overly influenced by my American education, I insisted on marching into the Ritz, woefully underdressed in sloppy shorts and flip flops. As Lebovitz explains, it was only once he realized that he had to dress up to put the garbage out that he truly felt like a Parisian.

Lebovitz not only explains the puzzling Parisian habit of cutting in line and their mystifying dinner etiquette (never cut your salad with a knife or chop the head off a wedge of cheese), but he also divulges all of his favorite restaurants and food stores. I consumed The Sweet Life in Paris in one sitting and had to physically restrain myself from jumping on the next plane to explore his recommendations first hand. I was familiar with some, such as E. Dehillerin, the mecca of copper pots and the rich Chocolat Africain at Angelina's Salon de The, but I'm dying to try the confitures of Christine Ferber from Da Rosa, the cheeses of Fromagerie 31, and the chocolates of Michel Chaudun. I am literally kicking myself for not visiting his blog prior to our March trip to France as he continually updates it with new recommendations.

Each chapter of The Sweet Life in Paris is concluded with some of the recipes that Lebovitz creates and refines in his tiny "cuisine Americaine." In addition to the decadent desserts you would expect from the author of dessert and ice cream cookbooks, there are plenty of appetizers and entrees as well. Ironically, the recipe I am most excited to try is the American one: Dulce de Leche Brownies. They're the bribe Lebovitz used to open the hearts of Parisian shopkeepers.

I read The Sweet Life in Paris on my way to BlogHer Food and then had honor of meeting David Lebovitz to gush about how much I loved it. After I recovered from the thrill of meeting such a food blog superstar, I then spent the rest of my
dragging everyone I met to the book table to buy their own copy.

So please consider this my virtual drag to your local bookstore. I guarantee that this book will inspire you to either book a ticket to Paris or start cooking, or maybe even both.