A Holiday Library for Cooks

Our selection of the most interesting new cookbooks

“Savoring France” by Georgeanne Brennan (Williams-Sonoma, $39.95)

For most of us, one of the greatest pleasures of traveling abroad is the discovery and enjoyment of provincial cooking. In a world too homogenized by fast-food and corporate restaurants, finding a small eatery that serves fare loaded with local culinary traditions and ingredients is a thrill.

“Savoring France” takes you on a journey through the provinces, gardens, markets and villages of France not only to find tempting recipes but also to understand what it is about each region that makes that recipe unique and interesting. Brennan explains how each region’s most prominent and plentiful ingredients color how the dish is prepared. Not only do I recommend reading this book prior to a touring vacation in France, I would definitely make room in my bags to take it with me.