Joie De Vivre: Simple French Style for Everyday Living

Whether or not the lifestyle described here is true or not, as pointed out by some of the other reviewers, matters not. M. Arbor obviously cherishes the existence he writes about so lovingly.Arbor lingers over descriptions of what he terms a typical French day. The reader senses his exuberance shining through the pages as they read about his breakfast, his time at a friend's garden, his love of fresh vegetables newly picked, shopping in the tiny family run French specialty stores that provide only the best food--all preservative free. As he sings the praises of the perfect roast chicken--stuffed with a piece of simple French bread and crowned with Provence herbs and root vegetables--I have tried this recipe and it is very good, your mouth will literally water. He urges the reader to delight in the little moments of life as defined by family and friends, good food and great wine. His glee is as ambiant as the light filterng through his morning window and as palpable as savoring the home-made pain du Chocolat he describes for an extra special afternoon snack. What he describes is indeed idyllic--a veritable fairytale land where all the senses are sated. Real? Who cares? It sounds wonderful to me. I felt as if I had spent a week with Arbor in his tranquil French village.In fact, just reading about it all allowed me to plunge back in time to when I myself was a little girl and my mother sent my brother and I to a garden of a neighbor to pick zucchini blossoms. My mother would fry this in a simple batter---oh what a marvelous treat. If not for Arbor's reminisciences, I would have never remembered how wonderful the whole experience was or how much I attribute such things to the real meaning of "home".On a more realistic level, Arbor's lifestyle may be difficult to reproduce here in the United States where we rely more on cars and supermarkets to shop rather than applying the "faire les courses" mentality of the French way of marketing. Perhaps here in New Orleans, or in other large cities, this is easier to accomplish, but I would say those who live in a more suburban or rural existence where bakeries, patisseries, chacuteries, cremeries, etc. simply do not exist or have been replaced by large supermarket chains promoting convenience rather than quality, will have a more difficult time of advocating Arbor's lifestyle. Of course, anyone can find ways to shrug off the tension of American life at any given moment by simply stopping to smell the coffee and enjoying smaller pleasant moments of life instead of always expecting the biggest events that we are unrealistically conditioned to believe we deserve.Arbor's message is simple and at the same time lovely to read about: Say "no" to stress--Simply smile and enjoy--eat well, drink well and cherish those that make up our individual worlds. A wonderful glimpse into what could be possible for those who crave a more European lifestyle. Also recommended are Will Clower's Fat Fallacy and Anne Barone's Chic and Slim Series--these books are recommended for those who are interested in how the French manage to stay so slim after indulging in all that greatly satisfying food.

For something quick to read and to be inspired and swept away at the same time, I recommend Joie de Vivre. Robert Arbor is a restaurateur who knows his stuff when it comes to what constitutes an enjoyable meal and good times spent with family and friends. There are no frills or expensive equipment used here; he shows you his own kitchen with it's low tech range and rustic charm. His recipes for good, wholesome and satisfying meals are simple for just about anyone to make and add to their own repertoire. Roast chicken, croque monsieur, perfect hot chocolate and good coffee. Make them, savor them and be transported to a little French village somewhere warm and fragrant with lavender.

Quelle joie indeed to read Monsieur Arbor's book. I lived in Paris for two years, and this simple tome brought back all the joyful, wonderful, detail-oriented finicky foibles of the French. Even if you have not lived in or visited France, however, this book is absolutely worth the read. The author breaks down what makes simple creature comforts pleasurable by taking the reader through the rituals of breakfast, lunch, dinner, marketing, dining al fresco and entertaining step by quirky meticulous step. I love when he says, about picnics, that the French simply will not eat while sitting on the ground; there must be a table. Yes! No wonder I love those lovely, low cedar tables that make a picnic so much more civilized than groping around next to your thigh for something that will surely splatter or spill by the time it makes it to your mouth (perhaps next we shall chat about the idiosyncrasies of the English...?) His description of holding a dinner party goes on and on, through various wines, two appetizers, main course, salad, cheese, dessert, champagne, digestif. I relished every word. He obviously takes great pleasure in eating and entertaining, and conveys clearly to the reader the simple magic of it all. The book also contains numerous simple yet excellent recipes. Yes, I know, I've used the word "simple" excessively; but I won't edit out the redundancy, because therein lies the main point: good food does not have to be complicated. Take the recipe for roast chicken, for example. It is now a standard in our household. It's amazing how a few minor adjustments make all the difference, such as stuffing a couple of cloves of garlic and some day-old baguette into the cavity and rubbing the outside of the bird with olive oil and paprika, and cooking it at 400 instead of 350. As the French would not say, MAN is that delish. Anyway, I highly recommend this book. It is great for reading in bed or at some in-between time on the weekend when you need to just dawdle and putter and dream. Bonne lecture!

A lovely read, I have it and ordered another for a friend

Thoroughly enjoyable read with great recipes. If you like anything about the French lifestyle you will enjoy.

Quite enjoyable read but not all that memorable.