In the Window: A La Mere de Famille

A la Mere de Famille is a Parisian culinary icon. Selling artisanally crafted confections and confectionery since 1761, A La Mere de Famille has been home to 10 different families.

Now under the direction of the Dolfi family, A La Mere recently celebrated its 250th birthday continuing to sell some of the best chocolates, caramels, pates de fruits, ice-creams, boiled sweeets, lollipops, marzipans, nougats and marron glaces; as well as cakes, preserves, biscuits, syrups and much more

As part of its birthday celebrations, a book was published and it has now, much to our delight, been translated into English. This collection of over 100 recipes provides an accessible, but serious, insight into French confectionery. There is a lot here for the aspiring or even beginner baker; but many pastry chefs will be amply

rewarded with the additional recipes for almond paste, pate de fruits, etc. We’ve already eyed off the financiers and madeleines and our children are very keen on some of the sugar confections including nougats, pralines, fruit marshmallows, lollipops and caramels.

The recipes are tightly, almost sparsely written and the measurements (including liquids) are in metric by weight throughout for precision. This precision is offset by the chapters between the recipes telling the story of the families of A La Mere de Famille and the enticing photographs are actually beguiling – its easy to imagine you are in Paris.

A la Mere de Famille was a bestseller in France in 2011 and deserves to be a long-lived best seller in English.

Who shold buy?

Anyone interested in traditional French confectionery and confections.

Forthcoming:

Available from 1 September 2013

Format:

Hardcover, 276pp

Price:

$39.95