Michael Steinberger

Many have bemoaned the end of French classical cooking, but Michael Steinberger writes dispassionately & accurately about why the way the French eats is changing - mostly because of economics and the age old "the times they are a'changing."

Anyone who loves France and/or French food will enjoy this book

It is of course lamentable that France may be losing its way culinarily, even if some of the root causes are probably more positive than not (working mothers). But that decline must be placed into perspective. Many other hitherto obscure cuisines and techniques have attained prominence (Japanese, Italian, regional Chinese cooking) and others are beginning to get that respect (Vietnamese, Southern American). All in all, let's shed a tear. But not two. I think this book maintains that balance.

Fascinating discussion of the decline in the average quality of French food, and of the factors that explain it. I was saddened to read it: it confirmed my own experience, but I had hoped that my dissapointments on my past few trips to France were just bad luck. No, but there is hope.