by Michèle Roberts

Out 7 November 2024

Pre-order 20% special offer till publication date

Les Fugitives proudly presents its very first cookbook, part of its fast-growing ‘quick brown fox’ collection of English-language originals: a unique work of literary and culinary joie de vivre, French Cooking for One is part food memoir, part recipe book. Humourously illustrated by the author, this is a personal and quirky book, a working cook's book with French flair, bursting with over 160 delicious recipes, piquant storytelling and feminist wit.

“Part of the beauty of the art of cooking is that it involves transience, making something delightful that then vanishes, and that in turn involves cherishing the time we spend on perfecting a dish. Cooking yourself something delicious is rewarding, satisfying, cheering. It makes us feel capable, creative, able to take care of ourselves. Cooking for yourself makes you feel spoiled and cherished.” - MR

French cuisine, classic though it is, still holds delicious surprises worth exploring. Whether cooking for one on a daily or an occasional basis, cooking well for yourself means cherishing yourself and your appetites, joyously giving yourself pleasure, opening yourself to new experiences. This book will encourage you to do all that.
      Infused with Michèle Roberts’ longstanding love of food – which frequently features in her novels – French Cooking for One is bursting with life. It shows a wide variety of easy-to-follow recipes including very many vegetarian ones (and was listed in vegetarian chef Anna Jones' in her late August newsletter), from quick bites for busy days to sumptuous main courses for those who enjoy spending more time in the kitchen. The focus throughout is on dishes that are simple and fun to prepare, and results that are mouthwatering to contemplate and, of course, to eat.
      Mixed in with the recipes are stories and vignettes of Michèle Roberts’ childhood in Normandy and her life in Mayenne, Pays de Loire, plus original ink drawings full of charm and humour.
Our trademark paperback format is enhanced for the occasion with sewn binding and woodfree, matt-coated bulky paper, making this slim volume more durable yet still easy to fit in on your kitchen shelves, bedside table or pocket, for readers on the go.

Paperback original with flaps, printed in two-tone stripes on the reverse

176 pages
180 x 120 mm
ISBN 978-1-0686617-1-6

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