The Whole Fromage: Adventures in the Delectable World of French Cheese

Very interesting book and delivered in excellent condition promptly

French cheese is one of those things that either gets a comment about its wonderful range, taste and diversity or a comment about it being "smelly and mouldy". This book might change those negative preconceptions and please culinary aficionados alike!Billed as a mixture of travelogue and food history, this book is clearly a labour of love for the author, encouraged by her own original curiosity and passion for a subject that is far from being over-described. For example, no-one knows how many French cheeses even exist now or have existed in the past, so it is no wonder that there is no definitive guide available. Starting with a light-hearted tale about smuggling cheese from France to the United States wrapped in a new suit of clothes, this is a whimsical, humorous, light-hearted yet serious observation about a subject that is capable of diverse opinions.This is a story-like type of book, demanding that you really read it sequentially rather than dip in and out. This review copy was an ebook version, bereft of pictures of wonderful cheeses, and it is unknown if the printed book is richly illustrated. One hopes so. It is a shame that an ebook which COULD have pictures doesn't have any! The story told is quite a pleasant, engaging one and you really feel as if you are sitting on the author's shoulders at times.At the end of the book there is a list of "selected Parisian Fromageries" should you ever find yourself in the area and in need of a cheese infusion. It is in such emporia that you might make great use of the "Fromagespeak" section to "talk the talk". Should you still be hungry (for knowledge!) there is also a comprehensive bibliography.This is one of those great little books that could make an airplane journey go by a lot faster or, of course, something you could settle down on the sofa with, accompanied by a glass of red and a plate of mixed nibbles. Perfection. Even those who are not cheese-a-holics could find this a great little read.