French Food for Everyone is a follow up to the best-selling In the French kitchen with kids and was inspired by the students in Mardi's online cooking classes in 2020-21, when cooking classes pivoted to online platforms. Mardi's first book proved that French food is simpler to make than many people believe, and over a year's worth of online classes she noticed whole families enjoying great success with her recipes. After a few months, one of her students remarked on the "recipe book" they had created from the online class recipes and Mardi realised she had enough for a whole new cookbook - French Food for Everyone was born! The book will be released a chapter at a time so people can get baking and cooking sooner!
The first chapter released in September 2021, "Le goûter" showcases 12 recipes to make and enjoy for that special snack time between end of school and dinner time. It's an integral part of the day for French children who, apart from this sacred ritual, are generally discouraged from snacking between meals. These recipes are a collection of classics - biscuits or cookies, boulangerie treats, cakes, puddings and even a sirop!
The second chapter, "Le dîner" was released in December 2021 and features 12 recipes to make and enjoy for dinner. Often, when people hear "French food" they assume the recipe will be too complicated, the ingredients too hard to find, the techniques too fussy for them to attempt at home. With these recipes, there's nothing too complicated for a home cook and many of these are simple enough to make even on a weeknight.
In "Le petit déjeuner", Mardi shares a handful of her favourite breakfast foods (ok, mostly pastries!). These are not necessarily typical of an everyday French breakfast; rather these are dishes Mardi has come to love over the years, living in and travelling to France.
Advance Praise:
Mardi's fuss-free, fabulous French recipes that are perfect for breakfast (and snacks) are like a foundation course for budding cooks, written in an engaging way that will, like all the books in the series, empower the whole family, unleash creativity and give them confidence making French recipes.
-Janine Marsh, author of My Good Life in France and editor thegoodlifefrance.com
The latest cookbook by Mardi Michels is filled with popular treats you'll see in any decent boulangerie in France. Mardi demystifies the process with clear instructions and illustrations, plus uses ingredients we already have in our pantry. Her magic recipes turn the basic to beautiful. Be warned: People will ask where you bought your pastries. Imagine their surprise when you tell them you made everything yourself.
-Janice MacLeod, New York Times best selling author of Paris Letters
Mardi Michels has long been my go-to source when it comes to cooking French-inspired dishes for the family. Her teaching experience deliciously translates to her recipes: her methods are filled with helpful tips and tricks that make her recipes foolproof. As someone who grew up enjoying classic, unfussy French cuisine at home, I truly appreciate finding the nostalgic dishes and flavors I long for in Mardi's cookbooks. This new tome will make you want to enjoy breakfasts à la française every day, and convince you that these pastries can be achieved by anyone.
-Marie Asselin, author of French Appetizers and recipe site, FoodNouveau.com
Viennoiseries, or breakfast pastries, seem like one of the more daunting French kitchen skills to master, but Mardi Michels provides detailed and approachable instructions, complete with step-by-step photos, that make them accessible to bakers of any age. Keep this charming, beautifully designed book on hand to bring la touche française to your breakfast table!
-Rosa Jackson, owner of the cooking school Les Petits Farcis in Nice,
