Confessions of a French baker

First praised in Peter Mayle’s best-selling book A Year in Provence, Chez Auzet bakery became a must-see destination for food tourists visiting the village of Cavaillon in the south of France. In Confessions of a French baker, his tenth book, Peter Mayle joins forces with Gerard Auzet, Chez Auzet’s award winning boulanger and allows readers an inside look into the world of bread making.  Part-memoir part recipe book, Mayle weaves the Auzet family’s history and savoir-faire with recipes for classics such as the baguette, boule or bâtard as well as flavored breads (olive, thyme, saffron and even bouillabaisse). Confessions of French baker is more a step-by-step guide filled with Auzet’s tips and industry secrets than the scandalous tell-all promised by the title but it is Mayle’s talent as a raconteur of Provence life that makes it such an enjoyable read. The last chapter on pairing breads with wine is a fun extra. by Peter Mayle and G. Auzet (TimeWarner) Reviewed by Alice Quillet