Drinking French

Drinking French is a guide to French beverages and drinking culture by acclaimed food writer David Lebovitz. The book covers cocktails, aperitifs, cafe drinks, and other libations found in French homes and establishments. The collection includes 160 recipes spanning traditional French drinks to modern interpretations. Each recipe comes with cultural context, historical background, and practical tips for sourcing ingredients and proper preparation methods. Beyond recipes, the book explores French drinking customs, bar culture, and the social rituals around various beverages. The text incorporates Lebovitz's firsthand observations from his years living in Paris and traveling through France. This work serves as both a practical manual and a cultural study of how drinks shape daily life and social connections in France. Through detailed instructions and contextual insights, it provides readers tools to recreate authentic French drinking experiences.

Readers highlight the detailed cultural context and stories behind French drinks, with many appreciating how Lebovitz connects cocktails to Parisian life. The recipes span from café drinks to aperitifs and cocktails. Liked: - Clear instructions and measurements in both US and metric - Personal anecdotes about Paris drinking culture - High quality photographs - Background information on French spirits and ingredients Disliked: - Some ingredients hard to source outside France - More cocktail recipes wanted vs coffee/hot chocolate - Index organization could be improved Review Scores: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (500+ ratings) Reader Comments: "Perfect balance of recipes and cultural context" - Amazon reviewer "Would have preferred more classic cocktails vs hot drinks" - Goodreads reviewer "Helped me recreate drinks from my Paris travels" - Barnes & Noble reviewer

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🇫🇷 Author David Lebovitz spent 13 years as a pastry chef at Alice Waters' legendary Chez Panisse restaurant before moving to Paris in 2004. 🍸 The book features 160 recipes spanning French drinks from morning to night, including café au lait, apéritifs, cocktails, and digestifs. 🥂 French apéritif culture dates back to 1846 when Joseph Dubonnet created his famous wine-based drink as a way to help French Foreign Legion soldiers take their malaria medicine. 📚 Many of the recipes in the book were collected directly from historic Parisian bars and cafés, preserving traditional French drinking culture. 🌿 The book explores France's contribution to the global cocktail scene, including spirits like Chartreuse (made by monks using 130 different herbs) and Suze (flavored with gentian root from the Alps).