Last night, after a gruelling journey down from Brussels by road, the ever-gorgeous Kimberley Lovato arrived at Chateau Lalinde!It seems that Everyone, as well as her aunt, her dog and her delinquent great nieces were on the French roads yesterday -- NOT a good day to be travelling across the length and breadth of La Belle France! But Kimberley arrived safely and we spent a perfect evening on the terrace, enjoying food and wine, the sound of the river below us, the rising of the almost-full moon -- and all-things-good-about-life-in-the-Dordogne.
Kinberley Lovato is at Chateau Lalinde for the local Dordogne launch of her runaway-success book, "Walnut Wine and Truffle Groves":
France the way it should be visited: one bite at a time. Walnut Wine & Truffle Groves is a culinary travel book that navigates the back roads—as well as the menus and markets—of southwestern France with newfound excitement . . . and a knife and fork! Through interviews with home cooks and chefs; visits to local farms, historic sites, and wineries; and serendipitous detours to out-of-the way places and unique destinations, author Kimberley Lovato provides a rare glimpse into this captivating region. The alluring recipes and stunning photographs let you discover the true jewels in France’s culinary crown, and the profiles and stories take you to the heart and hearth of the country’s most beautiful and mysterious province.
The book is beautiful. Kimberley, with her intense love for the region and its heritage and people, her bubbling spontaneity and enthusiasm for the food and the cuisine and the products of this area, her winning open smile and warm personality, has managed to capture in the pages of this book the colour, the sounds, the smells and the flavours of the Dordogne. Being a lover of this unique region myself, I am always on the lookout for new publications about the Dordogne -- and, the Dordogne being the Dordogne, there is a plethora of books about this region.
finally capture the essence of the Dordogne.
Kimberley's easy writing style and keen talent for observation managed to convey to the reader what this region is about. She describes the places she visits, recounts the anecdotes of the interesting people that she interviews, makes us feel under our own feet the little cobble streets she wanders through, lets us sip the wine that she drinks, invites us to taste the food that she savours and smell the aroma coming from the kitchens she works in -- and she does all this so well, that holding the book in your hands is like being transported to this beautiful corner of La Belle France.
Does this sound like I am gushing? Then it must be because I AM gushing! I am so excited about this book! In it is something for everyone -- history and information, origin of food and recipes -- all tested by master chef, Laura Schmalhorst, the do's and don'ts of the French Table, dining customs and traditions, colloquial expressions that will facilitate your way through the intricate eating experience in France as well as endear you to the hearts of all the locals you encounter, the timetables of the fresh produce markets of the region -- and who to see and where to go to make sure you enjoy every moment of your visit to the Dordogne -- and much more. The recipes are all representative of the very best of the best -- and made easy and straight forward -- and beautifully complemented and illustrated with excellent photographs. I could go on -- and on -- for that is what this book does to one. Holding it makes your heart beat faster -- it makes you excited, and it makes you impatient to read it from cover to cover -- and then go back and re-visit this photograph, that little anecdote, this fascinating little tidbit.
Kimberley explains her motivation for the book in the opening pages :
-- and I say exactly the same about this book "Walnut Wine and Truffle Groves" -- what's the fun in knowing that this book will delight everyone of you, if I cannot share that knowledge with you?
Walnut Wine & Truffle Groves
Publisher: Running Press
www.runningpresscooks.com
Buy it on Amazon
Monday, 28 June 2010
7pm - 9pm
Chateau Lalinde
1 rue de Verdun
Lalinde
If you would like to come join us for a glass of champagne on the terrace of the chateau and meet Kimberley Lovato in person and have her sign your copy of the book, call, +33 (0)689 38 68 22 or email : twoxscotch@gmail.com
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