You don't like it when a French housewife gets mad at you. If she gets steam behind her, she is an unstoppable creature.

Next to the defeated politician, the writer is the most vocal and inventive griper on earth. He sees hardship and unfairness wherever he looks. His agent doesn’t love him (enough). The blank sheet of paper is an enemy. The publisher is a cheapskate. The critic is a philistine. The public doesn’t understand him. His wife doesn’t understand him. The bartender doesn’t understand him.

The English kill their meat twice: once when they slaughter it and once when they cook it.

Depending on the inflection, ah bon can express shock, disbelief, indifference, irritation, or joy - a remarkable achievment for two short words.

I left school at 16 and skipped university to work, initially as a waiter. I think I missed out on what would have been great years.

No matter what their background, the southern French are fascinated by food.

There is nothing like a comfortable adventure to put people in a good humor. . .