Drinking French

“In the canon of drinking, there has been a conspicuous absence of information about how the French, undisputed masters of all things gastronomique, imbibe at home and in that hallowed social space, the café. David Lebovitz is certainly the most qualified person I can think of to write this book, and he does so with deft precision. I knew this book was written with someone like me in mind—equal parts Francophile, food, and beverage enthusiast—when I opened to the very first recipe in the book, my beloved morning ritual: the café au lait.”—Jeffrey Morgenthaler, author of Drinking Distilled “I can think of no one I’d rather meet for a drink than David Lebovitz. In his authoritative yet always approachable style, Lebovitz expertly guides us through the often-unspoken rituals, customs, and traditions of properly drinking French—whether it’s a morning café au lait, a mid-afternoon Picon bière, or a late-night Boulevardier. Lebovitz uses his years of experience as a baker and pastry chef to apply his keen understanding of ratios, formulas, and balancing flavor to seamlessly shift from the sweet life to the spirited life, with inventive recipes for café drinks, liqueurs, aperitifs, cocktails, and irresistible apéro snacks to accompany them.”—Brad Thomas Parsons, author of Bitters, Amaro, and Last Call “Anyone who has had the privilege of visiting Paris would certainly concur with David Lebovitz’s observation that ‘There is no shortage of rules in France; they even extend to beverages’. Thankfully, we Francophiles have this seasoned expat to conduct us through the idiosyncrasies of café culture. This handy recipe and resource guide doubles as the modern French handbook for cocktail party hosts.”—Jim Meehan, author of Meehan’s Bartender Manual and The PDT Cocktail Book “In France, drinking is more than a national sport … it’s an art! From our petit noir (coffee) and teas to classic apéritifs and cocktails, no cup or glass is spared from the curious and amused gaze of David Lebovitz. As an acute connoisseur of French gastronomy, his tasty collection of recipes and social observations can be imbibed in one shot—Santé!”—Francois-Regis Gaudry, author of Let’s Eat France! “Do you dream about moving to Paris and spending long, leisurely afternoons in cafés (hopefully with company as lively as David Lebovitz) sipping un café noisette and, later, an apéritif? Me too. This is the exact dreamy book we need to hold us over until that day arrives.”—Deb Perelman, author of Smitten Kitchen Every Day

David Lebovitz has been a professional cook and baker for most of his life; he spent nearly thirteen years at Chez Panisse until he left the restaurant business in 1999 to write books. He moved to Paris in 2004 and turned his website into a phenomenally popular blog. He is the author of numerous cookbooks, including My Paris Kitchen, The Perfect Scoop, Ready for Dessert, and The Great Book of Chocolate, and two memoirs, The Sweet Life in Paris and L’Appart. He was named one of the top five pastry chefs in the Bay Area by the San Francisco Chronicle. David has also been featured in Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, Cook’s Illustrated, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, Saveur, Travel + Leisure, Better Homes and Gardens, People, and more.

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