Breakfast in Burgundy cover art

Breakfast in Burgundy

A Hungry Irishman in the Belly of France

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Breakfast in Burgundy

By: Raymond Blake
Narrated by: John Keating
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About this listen

Laced with compelling writing about French food and its ways, Breakfast in Burgundy is part travel memoir, part foodie detective story, and part love song to Raymond's adopted home. This audiobook tells the story of the Blake's decision to buy a house in Burgundy. Raymond describes the moments of despair such as the water leak that cost a fortune and the fantastic times too. Blake has admitted to being fascinated by flavor and how it is created." Breakfast in Burgundy contains tales from the kitchen, and the answer to the question that begins each day ("What's for dinner?") is given ample coverage. The hunt for the best jambon persill is portrayed in detail. The same diligence is applied to the search for the best Comt cheese; for there's Comt and there's Comtonce nibbled, never forgotten. Yet to be perfected by Blake is Chicken Gaston Grard, said to have been first cooked in Dijon in 1930 for the celebrated gourmet Curnonsky by the mayor's wife. A neighboring winemaker's wife prepared it for Blake, as he watched over her shoulder. Breakfast in Burgundy documents these results and more. Included are tips on how best to prepare, cook, and serve the various goodies, as well as the story behind the wines (some of the most sought after in the world) that complement the foods, telling of people and places, who made the wine and where it is from - without recourse to tedious technical detail or dry-as-tinder tasting notes.

©2014 Raymond Blake (P)2014 Audible Inc.
Cooking Europe Food & Wine France Western Europe Wine & Beverages Marriage

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All stars
Most relevant  
I love reading and listening to expat adventures in France, but this wasn't interesting to me. Perhaps it's a generational thing, but I didn't find it interesting and stopped halfway through the first chapter

Not for me

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My late stepfather used to use the phrase for background music or something you could listen to without actually “listening” to it. This “free” audiobook was just that for me - a pleasant enough voice chittering away in the background. I ran it through a few times while otherwise busy but thought I’d give it a proper listen in the end. Sadly, I was terribly disappointed.
I wrote a book years ago. I didn’t do anything with it - it was a cathartic exercise as much as anything - I let a few friends and family read it and every one of them said they laughed and cried reading it and I should definitely try to get it published. I didn’t, because I didn’t believe it was worthy. Perhaps this author was buoyed by his family’s encouragement? If a professional publisher read this and thought that the world needed to hear this man’s story of such riveting moments in his life then I can only assume said publisher lives in a cardboard box in a cupboard under the stairs! I’m sorry, it takes courage to put your life on paper for the world to read but… in my humble opinion, this author really shouldn’t have bothered. I found it lacking on every level I’m afraid but the narrators voice is nice enough for background noise.

Chewing gum for the ears

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I loved this book very much but unfortunately the narration was really annoying – the pronunciation of Loire and Terroir particularly irritated! Sorry!

Great book but annoying narration

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I found the narrator annoying, just reading not understanding, and his French accent was not convincing. Perhaps if it had been narrated by the author, it might have sounded more authentic.

This chap knows a lot about wine, but so far, he seems to have little idea about renovating a house, so the renovated house sounded less appealing than the un-renovated one. He explained in great detail the things I was not interested in and skipped over the things that I felt were quite important. I kept going to the end so it can't have been that bad.

Hmmm

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Sorry but the story is rather dull. Was expecting similar to A Year in Provence or A year at the chateau but was sadly disappointed.

Despite trying a few times to listen to this I decided to give up.

Dull

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The narrator keeps up a sprightly pace as we learn about Raymond Blake's lifelong obsession with wine, intermingled with hearing about their purchase and renovation of a house in the Burgundy region. We meet his wife Fionnula, (not sure of spelling of her name...), who is a working musician, hear about his childhood in Ireland and his lively accounts of his relatives visiting them in France. An enjoyable listen.

Funny Irishman shares his love of wine

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the authors love of the subject of food and wine un Burgundy. The quality and passion of description of experiences

passion and joy for wine

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A very enjoyable book. Week with charm and atmosphere. We'll read too and I was immersed in the story, the region and the events beautifully described.

Very enjoyable

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Awful drivel - boring, pretentious twaddle. Can't pronounce French words. Don't waste your time on this.

Minus for the Narrator

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If you love wine, or food, or simply enjoying being immersed in another world, then this book is for you.

A sheet delight

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