Windows on Provence: Musings on the Food, Wine, and Culture of the South of France

Here is a stunningly beautiful book by celebrated food writer and cook Georgeanne Brennan, who lived in and breathed Provence for many years. Windows on Provence will be enjoyed particularly by foodies: gourmets, gourmands, and dedicated cooks, but also by armchair travelers. Brennan divides her book into twelve chapters; each one is an essay on some aspect of this famous region of southern France, Provence. The book is profusely illustrated by hundreds of beautiful photographs–many are food close-ups and just as many are landscapes and cityscapes of the region Brennan visited. One chapter, for example, is on herbs of the region, another is on its markets, still other is on fabrics and textures. Within each chapter, Brennan describes her visit to a specific location, ranging from small villages to large towns to Marseille. These descriptions are nice readings, and with accompanying photos the reader has a good feel of the place. The last chapter is on Provence’s celebrated novelist, Jean Giono. Brennan adds occasional local recipes (these are not for the novice cooks) like Lamb on a Bed of Potatoes and Onions. To enjoy this book, it helps to have a basic knowledge of the French language.