Lulu's Provencal Table (eBook)

Richard Olney ̶ responsible for the legendary Time-Life cooking series as well as other cooking classics such as his wonderful Simple French Food (also published by Grub Street) ̶ moved to Provence in 1961 and had the good fortune to befriend Lulu and Lucien Peyraud, the owners of the noted Domaine Tempier vineyard in Provence, not far from Marseilles. Lulu's Provenal Table tantalizes the reader with Olney's descriptions of the regional food served as the vineyard meals at the domaine. Then he lovingly transcribes Lulu's recipes. She has an empathy with and understanding of Provenal ingredients that is inspirational. There is succulent Pot-Roasted Leg of Lamb with Black Olives served with Courgette Gratin, and Potato and Sorrel Gratin, delicious with just six ingredients. There are plenty of simple recipes, but the recipe for bouillabaisse is a fascinating 10 pages long. Her 150 recipes read like a roll call of the best of Provence ̶ tapenade, anchoiade, brandade, pissaladire, bagna cauda, sardines grilles, bouillabaisse, bourride, daurade au fenouil, daube, gigot la ficelle and ratatouille. Starting with aperitifs and amuse-gueule and finishing up with fruit desserts, hers is classic French country cooking, featuring everyday ingredients cooked with respect for their nature and flavor.

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A food writer and editor of the Time-Life cooking series shares stories and recipes from his friendship with a legendary Provençal chef and vineyard owner.   Of all of the culinary treasures that Richard Olney brought home from France for his American audience, the spritely and commanding Lulu Peyraud is perhaps the most memorable. A second-generation proprietor of Provence’s noted vineyard Domaine Tempier, and producer of some of the region’s best wines and meals, Lulu has for more than fifty years been Provence’s best-kept secret. Mother of seven, Lulu still owns and operates Domaine Tempier with her family, serving up wit and warmth with remarkable food at the vineyard. Hosting American tastemakers like Alice Waters, Paul Bertolli, Gerald Asher, Paula Wolfert, and Kermit Lynch through the years, Lulu has willingly shared her sweeping culinary knowledge, wisdom, and resourcefulness with anyone who stopped by.   In Lulu’s Provençal Table, Olney, who shared an unguarded friendship with Lulu, relays the everyday banter, lessons, and more than 150 recipes that have emerged from her kitchen. Peppered with more than 75 photographs, Olney’s tribute aptly celebrates the spirit and gifts of this culinary legend.   “With good-humored admiration, sharp-eyed description and lucid instruction, Olney—and Lulu—bring readers traditional Provencal cooking at its finest.” —Publishers Weekly   “The tentative giving and taking of recipes quietly evolved into a book so rich in collaboration that Lulu together with Richard seemed to become as one: a magical, culinary love affair.” —Simon Hopkinson, The Observer