Introduction

I often ask myself “Why France?” Just why is the country cooking of France so compelling, and why does it exert such fascination and evoke so much respect? I was raised in the countryside (in Yorkshire, not in France) and grew up with fresh farm produce and the habit of snapping up the best in the nearby outdoor market. None of that prepared me for the riches of rural France, the sights, the smells, the relish with which everyone enjoys the diversity of ingredients that change with the seasons.