French Feasts: 299 Traditional Recipes for Family Meals and Gatherings by Stéphane Reynaud, Marie-Pierre Morel (Photographer); 2009. Hardcover. (F&C)

In France, where eating is a national pastime, the long, leisurely Sunday lunch is a feast for the senses. It is this quality that Stéphane Reynaud captures so perfectly in his paean to traditional French cooking.

French Feasts features 299 recipes for beloved dishes like patés, gratins, savory tarts, and braised meats that are the essence of French weekend fare. From classic stews like navarin and boeuf bourguignon, to foie gras prepared six different ways, to crème brulée and gâteau Basque, the recipes come from all over France and even some former colonies (couscous is a national favorite). The book also includes beautiful, earthy photographs, illustrations, profiles of local producers, and fact-filled sidebars—a guide to cognac and Armagnac, how to make the perfect croissant, and much more—that evoke the considerable pleasures of the French table.

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