How can anyone not appreciate the way Ina Garten simplifies good food and good taste? She is a superstar of cooking and she has brought to life the essence of elegance.

She has by far surpassed herself in this beautiful collection of recipes. It just makes you want to fly to Paris and have a wonderful lunch in a local bistro.

The simplified recipes are a cinch for any amateur - or expert! - cooks. This book will make your guests think you've gone to France and back.

Simple, elegant and oh so decadent!

I bought this book after seeing Ina's "Barefoot in Paris" special on television. I've made the beef bourginon, coconut madelines, and cheese straws. All are easy and absolutely delicious - particularly the beef bourginon, which tastes even better for the next couple days. Your dinner party guests will be impressed and you won't have spent half the day in the kitchen. The photos in the book are gorgeous, too. Makes me long to return to Paris...

I've also tried several recipes copied from her television show: braised cabbage, strawberry country cake, salmon spread with toasted baguettes, roasted potato wedges, and thumbprint cookies. All are easy, easy, easy, and the taste is excellent - particularly the cake. I'm ready to move on the some of the entrees now. Her recipies are simple but seem much more complex and "gourmet" when they're done.

I am French myslef and sometimes struggle to adapt my French receipes to the US food/creams/ingredients.
This book gave me a fresh look at French food and at US adaptations. I have made some of the receipes already, and they all turned out very well.
My only caution when following the receipes: do not use all the butter/oil she recommends. Her receipes are too greasy. For eg, when you cook the mashed potatoes, she makes you fry the garlic clove in olive oil, then she makes you pour all the oil (1 cup!) in the mashed potatoes! I only added 1 tablespoon of the oil, for the taste/texture, but adding it all in would be horrible! Same for the Cauliflower au Gratin, where she pours melted butter on top of the topping cheese/crumbs mix. The grating browns well without the butter, and the dish is heavy enough as is, not to add more fat to it!
I still gave this book a 5 because the receipes are very French, and if you don't put as much butter or oil as recommended, they turn out very good!

For those who relish getting everything out of life,
cooking and enjoying French food is the Ne Plus Ultra!
This book is a shortcut to the having the Champs Elysse
right in the comfort of your own livingroom -- even if you
are living in Iowa. With Ina's expert advice and tutelage,
even the most amateur gastronome will be puffing up
fluffy pastries and serving sultry salads a la mode in
no time. If you are looking for one book to help you
transport yourself and lucky loved-ones across the pond
to a world of sensory and salivary indulgences without
leaving home, this is it. And I am sure that it will be just the
first of many steps on an awakening journey for you, as it
was for me. My copy came bundled with a few other
delights, including "Voice Lessons To Go" a CD which
has helped to free my innermost voice to sing the praises
of this fine French food, and the dvd "New Sex Now"
which has helped my wife and my souls to sing
"Ooh-la-la, que la vie est belle!" Now our house
has beautiful music flowing from the kitchen, shower,
dining-room and bedroom!

For those who relish getting everything out of life,
cooking and enjoying French food is the Ne Plus Ultra!
This book is a shortcut to the having the Champs Elysse
right in the comfort of your own livingroom -- even if you
are living in Iowa. With Ina's expert advice and tutelage,
even the most amateur gastronome will be puffing up
fluffy pastries and serving sultry salads a la mode in
no time. If you are looking for one book to help you
transport yourself and lucky loved-ones across the pond
to a world of sensory and salivary indulgences without
leaving home, this is it. And I am sure that it will be just the
first of many steps on an awakening journey for you, as it
was for me. My copy came bundled with a few other
delights, including "Voice Lessons To Go" a CD which
has helped to free my innermost voice to sing the praises
of this fine French food, and the dvd "New Sex Now"
which has helped my wife and my souls to sing
"Ooh-la-la, que la vie est belle!" Now our house
has beautiful music flowing from the kitchen, shower,
dining-room and bedroom!