Little Culinary Triumphs - Softcover

Pujol, Pascal

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1609454901 ISBN 13: 9781609454906

Publisher: Europa Editions, 2019

Synopsis

Set in the storied Parisian quarter of Montmarte, this heartwarming, comic tale is a must for foodies, Francophiles, and lovers of a good story well told.

Made famous by artists, writers, and bon vivants of every ilk, Montmartre has been the stomping ground for bohemian celebrities through the ages and a neighborhood synonymous with transgression and innovation. Today, it is a bustling multiethnic neighborhood where cultures, cuisines, the past and the future of Europe cohabitate and collide. Here in this vibrant community, in Pujol's charming English-language debut, a cast of endearing characters fall into increasingly comic situations as they seek to follow their often-outrageous dreams.

Sandrine works as a functionary in an employment office, but there is a lot more to her than one might suspect from her job description. With a volcanic personality and an imagination to match it, she is also a world-class cook who is waiting for the right occasion to realize her dream of opening a restaurant of her own.

With a master plan that one could only describe as Machiavellian, Sandrine ropes Antoine, an unemployed professor looking for a fresh start, into her venture. A carousel of extravagant characters follows: the giant Senegalese man, Toussaint N'Diaye; the magical chef, Vairam; the extravagantly flatulent Alsatian, Schmutz and his twelve-year-old daughter Juliette--IQ 172!; the alluring psychologist and Kama Sutra specialist, Annabelle Villemin-Dubreuil.

Plans for the restaurant proceed smoothly until Sandrine discovers a shady newspaper operation next-door that leads her to a sinister magnate manipulating the Parisian news outlets.

About this title

Review

Praise for Little Culinary Triumphs

"For much of this first novel, translated from the French by Alison Anderson, Ms. Pujol's tone of voice is pitch perfect, sardonic and smart." --Wall Street Journal

"Corrosive humor, strong characters and a wild rhythm." --Le Figaro Magazine

"It's comic, smart and spot on, it could be a film by Dino Risi." --Livres Hebdo

"Short and exhilarating, a very Parisian novel." --SoloLibri

"Good humor assured with the events of the bizarre gang of the residence Darcourt in Montmartre." --Cucina Italiana

"This farcical novel envelops readers in the sights, sounds, and smells of Montmartre and is sure to be enjoyed by fans of Mary Simses, Laura Madeleine, and Nina George. With lively characters and a dreamy setting, Little Culinary Triumphs will awaken the Francophile in all." --Booklist Online

"Pujol's pleasant and fun debut features well-rounded characters and a delicious, Parisian appreciation of food [ . . . ] Sexy encounters, irreverent humor, and subtle twists keep up the pace of this quirky tale about a variety of French appetites." --Publishers Weekly

"In her debut novel, Pascale Pujol keeps the tone light as she takes on serious themes of economics and immigration. [ . . . ] The plot adds characters like ingredients in a recipe until everything finally sets like a creamy quiche. Will everybody get what they want -- or deserve? Maybe, maybe not, but it's fun watching the schemes unfold." --The Star Tribune

About the Author

Pascale Pujol grew up in Perpignan and lives in Paris. She worked as a journalist for over ten years and is now an economic and financial consultant and analyst. Little Culinary Triumphs is her first novel.

Alison Anderson's translations for Europa Editions include novels by Sélim Nassib, Amélie Nothomb, and Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt. She is the translator of The Elegance of the Hedgehog (Europa, 2008) and The Life of Elves (Europa, 2016) by Muriel Barbery.

About this edition

• Publisher: Europa Editions
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 1609454901
• ISBN 13: 9781609454906
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240