Mostly French - by Makenna Held (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Mostly French is a love letter to the South of France, with 100+ recipes that transport you straight to Julia Child's former home. The perfect Mother's Day gift for moms who dream of escaping to Provence.

Mostly French is a stunningly beautiful cookbook developed and photographed at La Pitchoune, Julia Child's home in Provence. Inspired by the olive trees and hills of lavender, thyme, and wild asparagus, author and cooking instructor Makenna Held shares 150 recipes that pay homage to the serenity of Southern France. Through dishes such as Roasted Chicken with Lemon and Sumac, Caprese with Peaches and Strawberries, and Lavender Salted Caramels, among dozens of others that lean into France and ease, she channels the best of French cooking: simple ingredients, technique, and balanced flavors.

But just as deliciously, Mostly French is Makenna's story of finding herself in the slower pace of the French countryside. She lives with the spirit of Julia Child and honors her legacy, while forging her own path as a cook and teacher. In the narrative woven throughout the introductory material and recipe headnotes, Makenna writes as much about developing as a person as she does about developing delicious recipes.

What makes this book special is Makenna's classic French staples--Roasted Tomato "Jam," Dream Vinaigrette, and sauces like an easy Hollandaise, put to use next to meal-sized salads, roasts, and omelettes that make a meal. With tips and tricks, and an extensive section on cheese and charcuterie boards for the golden hour of L'Apero, this cookbook will delight anyone with its modern approach to everyday French cooking.

Review Quotes

"[In] these captivating pages [Held] shares her unfussy cooking methods and seasonal recipes that can be recreated anywhere, such as Ratatouille Galette, Plum and Thyme Bellinis and Roasted Asparagus with Black Garlic Mayonnaise." - The Atlanta Journal Constitution.

"The small hillside domaine of Bramafam in southwest France is famed for its ancient olive trees and La Pitchoune, the modest vacation retreat where Julia and Paul Child welcomed a rotating guest list of friends and renowned food writers... These captivating pages take us to that magical setting where she shares her unfussy cooking methods and seasonal recipes that can be re-created anywhere" -Ledger-Enquirer

"I love this book! Mostly French was conceived and cooked in Julia Child's magical and simple kitchen in Provence, and her spirit grabs you on each page. Makenna Held puts her heart in the sumptuous and straightforward recipes modeled on French classics, and I'm certain I'll be cooking my way through this book for many years to come." -Daniel Leader, Founder, Bread Alone bakery

"Makenna Held is the Elizabeth Gilbert of cooking, and her book is for anyone who has fantasized about picking up and starting over to follow a dream. It's also for people who want to bring the romance of southern France into their lives, as Makenna takes us to centuries-old charming markets and olive groves and shows us how to produce some of the most gloriously simple and gloriously iconic foods (galettes! tarte tatin, pistous!) in our own kitchens. I couldn't be more inspired." -Jenny Rosenstrach, NY Times bestselling author of Dinner: A Love Story and The Weekday Vegetarians

"Makenna Held's MOSTLY FRENCH brilliantly demystifies the cuisine that has intimidated many a home cook, bringing it back to its peasant country roots, giving us a way to cook that is honest and grounded-- this is food I want to eat!" -Olivia Tiedmann of Oliviatied

"One day I hope to visit "la Peetch" but in the meantime, I'm very happy to have Mostly French. Makenna Held describes the landscape and her cooking philosophy in ways that are evocative and aspirational but more importantly approachable. Who wouldn't want to make something called Celery Salad Gone Wild? I know I do.

After flipping through the pages for just a few minutes I started flagging recipes and imagining future dinner parties and special family meals. I want to create Makenna's beautiful world in my own home, and with Mostly French that seems altogether possible." - Samantha Seneviratne, author of Bake Smart

"I want to eat this book! This is the kind of home cooked recipes that your grandmother teaches you... if your grandmother were Julia Child! Mostly French is a must-have for any home cook's kitchen from beginner to expert just wanting to feel inspired by the warmth of food and soleil from the South of France."
-Jamie Beck, author of An American in Provence

"The little vacation house that Julia Child and her husband Paul built in the south of France--complete with the perfect kitchen--is the setting and inspiration for Makenna's fun, easy-going, approachable cookbook. Mostly French is a total delight!"
--Luke Barr, New York Times Bestselling Author of Provence, 1970

About the Author

Makenna Held bought La Pitchoune, Julia Child's summer home in Provence sight-unseen in 2016, when she came across a listing for it in The New York Times. Today, she operates the home as the Courageous Cooking School. She was the host of La Pitchoune: Cooking in France on the Magnolia Network, a seven-part show that featured Makenna and her fellow teachers as they welcomed guests to La Peetch for a week-long cooking class. A graduate of Smith College, she and Julia share an alma mater, and Makenna has appeared in Vogue, Eater, Condé Nast Traveler, Boston Magazine, among other media outlets.