Spring readings

LIAIGRE: 12 PROJECTS by Christian Liaigre

This classic reference on visionary interior designer Christian Liaigre’s signature style transports readers inside his world through more than six hundred photographs. This highly anticipated reissue of the late design master Christian Liaigre’s final book features twelve of his projects from around the world, including private and public interiors from Nantucket to Malibu, from Athens to Korea, and from the Caribbean to London. The large-format volume immerses readers in Liaigre’s rarefied world and encompasses the full range of his talents in furniture and interior design where
nothing is left to chance, from the positioning of the windows to the shape of the door handles. Timelessness, tranquil beauty, and subtle luxury were Liaigre’s signature, and he built his reputation on the refined quality of his furniture and interiors. With a keen sensibility for space and light, design inspiration drawn from local cultures and traditions, meticulous attention given to the sourcing of materials, and an affinity for artisanal work,
Liaigre combines the art of understatement with great elegance, discretion, and balance. The beautifully produced tome offers rich inspiration for professional architects and interior designers as well as aficionados.

Christian Liaigre designed homes for Calvin Klein, Karl Lagerfeld, Bryan Adams, Rupert Murdoch, and Kenzo. He also designed the Mercer Hotel in New York and
La Societé restaurant in Paris. His publications include Christian Liaigre (2008) and Christian Liaigre: Maison (2004). His home designs are available in twenty-three international showrooms including Paris, London, Brussels, Knokke-Heist, Moscow, Bangkok, Singapore, Seoul, Shanghai, Beijing, New York, Miami, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Scottsdale, Seattle, and Vancouver.

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Woods 

From the million-copy bestselling author of The Lost Bookshop (About Evie Woods)

Nestled among the cobblestone streets of Compiègne, there existed a bakery unlike any other. Rumours were whispered through the town that its pastries offered a taste of magic, chasing away the darkest of sorrows. Just one bite of a croissant might bring luck, unlock a precious memory or reveal hidden longings. But dark clouds were looming on the horizon…

For Edie Lane, a recipe for disaster doesn’t require that many ingredients. Take an unhealthy amount of wishful thinking and a sprinkle of desperation and that’s how Edie left everything behind in Ireland for her dream job at a bakery in Paris. Except the bakery isn’t in Paris – and neither is Edie. This might not be where Edie intended to be but she soon realizes it's exactly where she needs to be…

MEAT, POULTRY & GAME, RECIPES AND TECHNIQUES FROM THE FERRANDI SCHOOL OF CULINARY ARTS by FERRANDI Paris

FERRANDI Paris, the French School of Culinary Arts— dubbed the “Harvard of gastronomy” by Le Monde newspaper—provides the ultimate reference on preparing and cooking meat. This book offers a complete course in cooking all types of meat: beef, veal, pork, lamb, poultry, and game. From trussing a chicken to tying a pork loin to dressing a rack of lamb, readers will gain all the fundamentals for preparing meat, along with more advanced techniques such as preparing sweetbreads or boning and stuffing quail. Impress your dinner guests by serving dishes such as duck confit, shredded boar tacos, moussaka, beef and vegetable stir-fry, veal blanquette, Texas-style pork spareribs, osso buco, or
lamb tagine.

Written by the culinary school’s experienced teaching team of master chefs and adapted for the home cook, this fully illustrated cookbook provides concise, expert guidance through forty-eight fundamental techniques that form the building blocks of the illustrious French cooking tradition, explained step by step in text and images, as well as seventy delicious recipes. Practical information is presented in tables, diagrams, and sidebars for handy reference. Easy-to-follow recipes of various levels of difficulty allow readers to develop their skills over time. Whether you are an amateur home chef or an experienced professional, this extensive reference provides everything you need to master the world-class culinary school’s recipes and techniques for preparing meat.

FERRANDI Paris opened in 1920 to train culinary professionals. Internationally renowned for excellence, the school offers courses of all levels to students from France and abroad, including master classes taught by celebrated Michelinstarred chefs. They published French Pâtisserie (2017), Chocolate (2019), Vegetables (2020), Fruit and Nuts (2021), Charcuterie, Pâtés, Terrines, Savory Pies (2023), and French Boulangerie (2024).

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES OF FRANCE, DISCOVER 176 CHARMING DESTINATIONS
Foreword by Stéphane Bern, Les Plus Beaux Villages de France Association

Discover the 176 most picturesque villages to visit in France in this official illustrated guidebook from the association that has passionately selected charming villages since 1982. From the verdant village of Gargilesse-Dampierre favored by George Sand, to the picturesque Hunawihr along the wine trail, to the medieval commune of Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, nicknamed the “Riviera of the Limousin,” this illustrated guide unveils the beauty and diversity of rural France, providing complete visitor’s information for these exceptionally well-preserved destinations.

Carefully selected annually, the French villages featured in this official guide are replete with historical, architectural, and natural riches. A history of each village is accompanied by recommendations for monuments, museums, and other places to visit; accommodation options ranging from hotels to campsites; restaurants, markets, artisanal produce, and local specialties. Details on leisure activities encompass festivals, events, and excursions that encourage visitors to explore the surrounding area.

This practical, authoritative, and accessible illustrated guide is completed with an overview map of France, QR code links to
additional online resources, and an index. Stéphane Bern is the author of several books including The Best Loved Villages of France; Luxembourg: History, Landscape, and Traditions; and Highland Living: Landscape, Style, and Traditions of Scotland. A specialist on nobility and royalty, he has received the Order of the British Empire, the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, and the Order of Grimaldi. Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, founded in 1982, protects and promotes the heritage of villages rigorously selected for their patrimonial wealth and architectural quality. It pioneered an international federation of The Most Beautiful Villages in the World, committed to sustainable development and the preservation of historical and cultural heritage in Belgium, Quebec, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, Russia, Lebanon, and China.

Many thanks to Sam Evans for her collaboration.