"In the canon of drinking, there has been a conspicuous absence of information about how the French, undisputed masters of all things
gastronomique, imbibe at home and in that hallowed social space, the cafe. David Lebovitz is certainly the most qualified person I can think of to write this book, and he does so with deft precision. I knew this book was written with someone like me in mind--equal parts Francophile, food, and beverage enthusiast--when I opened to the very first recipe in the book, my beloved morning ritual: the cafe au lait."
--Jeffrey Morgenthaler, author of Drinking Distilled
"I can think of no one I'd rather meet for a drink than David Lebovitz. In his authoritative yet always approachable style, Lebovitz expertly guides us through the often-unspoken rituals, customs, and traditions of properly drinking French--whether it's a morning cafe au lait, a mid-afternoon Picon biere, or a late-night Boulevardier. Lebovitz uses his years of experience as a baker and pastry chef to apply his keen understanding of ratios, formulas, and balancing flavor to seamlessly shift from the sweet life to the spirited life, with inventive recipes for cafe drinks, liqueurs, aperitifs, cocktails, and irresistible apero snacks to accompany them."
--Brad Thomas Parsons, author of Bitters, Amaro, and Last Call
"Anyone who has had the privilege of visiting Paris would certainly concur with David Lebovitz's observation that 'There is no shortage of rules in France; they even extend to beverages'. Thankfully, we Francophiles have this seasoned expat to conduct us through the idiosyncrasies of cafe culture. This handy recipe and resource guide doubles as
the modern French handbook for cocktail party hosts."
--Jim Meehan, author of Meehan's Bartender Manual and The PDT Cocktail Book "In France, drinking is more than a national sport . . . it's an art! From our petit noir (coffee) and teas to classic aperitifs and cocktails, no cup or glass is spared from the curious and amused gaze of David Lebovitz. As an acute connoisseur of French gastronomy, his tasty collection of recipes and social observations can be imbibed in one shot--Sante!"--Francois-Regis Gaudry, author of Let's Eat France!
"Do you dream about moving to Paris and spending long, leisurely afternoons in cafes (hopefully with company as lively as David Lebovitz) sipping un cafe noisette and, later, an aperitif? Me too. This is the exact dreamy book we need to hold us over until that day arrives."--Deb Perelman, author of Smitten Kitchen Every Day