Paris lives in our imaginations as the City of Light, its world-famous landmarks so frequently seen as movie backgrounds that we forget that Paris is made of neighborhoods, and, as in all the great cities of the world, those neighborhoods are enclaves of newcomers as well as old-timers. The award-winning European chef/restaurateur, Danyel Couet, has a love of those neighborhoods and the rich variety of foods found from one enclave to another. In The Paris Neighborhood Cookbook, he opens our taste buds as he leads us to discover Paris. In this rewarding book, Couet explores the markets and street food of Paris, and the classic bistros offering perfect but simple French cuisine. Strolling through all the hidden byways of Paris, he takes us into the ethnic quarters - African, Arab, Jewish, Greek Indian, and Asian. The result of his wanderings is a rich collection of more than ninety recipes that remind us that Paris is more than movie set, and always a city for the best food. Of his own discoveries, Couet says, "Carefully, curiously, and quickly I bit into the globe and its kitchens..." Couet's enthusiasm is infectious, and, in his chef's hands great recipes result. Loving simplicity, Couet offers recipes that can be made at home with guaranteed success.
Movie Paris is certainly romantic, but the life within the city is even more romantic, and the variety of foods is part of the romance. Couet offers recipes that will please all tastes and open new vistas, each done with simplicity and ease. With the clicking camera of David Loftus, shooting recipe dishes as well as street scenes, merchants and markets, the reader easily accompanies Couet around Paris. He explores the Marais, today housing young and hip artists as well as the long-established Jewish community. The recipes he offers from this source reflect the Jewish diaspora. They carry the influences of both the Middle East and Middle Europe, such as a Grilled Vegetable Salad (Mechouia) from the Middle East or Potato Blinis from the European immigrants. He explores the African markets in La Goutte d'Or and offers recipes such as Sea Bass with Spices from Cameroon, Roasted Chicken with Coconut, Cilantro, and Chili. Venturing into the Greek Quarter in the area around Saint-Michel, he offers such recipes as Grilled Eggplant Dip, Calamari with Black Aioli, Lamb Meatballs with Feta Cheese, Sheep's Yogurt with Black Olives. In the area of La Chapelle, he finds the influence of its Indian residents and offers recipes such as Grapefruit Chutney, Pickled Cauliflower New Delhi Style, Fast Chicken Curry, a Lassi of Coconut and Lime. From the Asian Quarters of Le Treizième he offers recipes such as Vietnamese Spring Rolls, Soy Eggs Peking Style, Shrimp Dumplings with Chili and Cilantro, Coconut and Lime Parfait with Strawberries.
Ah, but Paris is Paris is Paris, famed for its long-established trend of bistro eating, for its markets and for foods that can be eaten if a spontaneous thought of a picnic occurs. . Couet loves the simplicity and ease of classic bistro and offers recipes for classic foods, made with his trademark simplicity, dishes such as Roast Lamb with Goat Cheese and Bean Salad from Provence, Coquille St-Jacques Gratinées, Onion Soup au Gratin with Thyme, an impeccable Tuna Salad à la Niçoise, a Chocolate Mousse, a Vanilla Flan, or dessert Crêpes with Lemon Syrup. To pack on a picnic, try the Parisian delights of Pickled Sardines, Wine-cooked Artichokes, a Filled Camembert, a Luxury baguette (Ficelle Gourmande).
Enjoy real-life Paris in your own kitchen.
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