Laura Bradbury and Rebecca Wellman - Bisous and Brioche: Classic French Recipes and Family Favorites from a Life in France

Copyright 2020 by Laura Bradbury and Rebecca Wellman

Photographs copyright 2020 by Rebecca Wellman

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TouchWood Editions

touchwoodeditions.com

The information in this book is true and complete to the best of the authors knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of the authors or the publisher.

Edited by Lesley Cameron

Cover and interior design by Tree Abraham

Ebook by Alexandra Santos

Cataloguing Data Available from Library and Archives Canada

9781771513166 (hardcover)

9781771513173 (electronic)

TouchWood Editions acknowledges that the land on which we live and work is within the traditional territories of the Lkwungen (Esquimalt and Songhees), Malahat, Pacheedaht, Scianew, TSou-ke, and WSNE (Pauquachin, Tsartlip, Tsawout, Tseycum) peoples.

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund, and the province of British Columbia through the Book Publishing Tax Credit.

For Renate.
My sister in all the most important ways.
RW

This is for my wonderful readers and for all the people in France who have fed me incredible meals.
LB

bisou[bizu] ( familier)
nom masculin
kiss

donne-moi ou fais-moi un bisou
give me a kiss

Larousse Dictionnaire

First and foremost, I want to thank all the amazing cooks in France who have taught me recipes and regaled me with delicious food over the decades. You have shown me just how sublime the art of cooking can be. This means Mm Germaine, of course, Michle and Andr Germain, Stphanie Germain, Rene Lobreau, Jean and Jacqueline Toutain, Charlotte Buffet (aka Marie in my Grape Series memoirs), Joelle Monette, Martial and Isabelle Henras, and my first host family in Burgundy, the Duperrets, especially Herv who was a perfect guide for my introduction to the finer points of French savoir-vivre.

Thank you to the Rotary Club of Downtown Victoria for not sending me to Belgium on my exchange year, and for not dragging me back home to Canada when I moved in with my French boyfriend.

Thank you to the woman at Immigration Qubc in Paris who gave Franck his permanent residency papers to come to join me in Montral on the basis that he was madly in love. I wish I knew who you were so I could send you a photo of our three daughters.

Thank you to my parents, Lynda and Bryan, for putting up with me during my picky eater years, and for pretending not to notice when I fed my dinner to the dog under the table.

Thank you to Rebecca Wellman, my co-author, who has done such an amazing job creating, testing, and styling recipes and taking the wonderful photos that make this book so beautiful.

Huge mercis to Daisy Orser and Renate Wellman for being wonderful travel companions to France as well as impromptu models and cooking Sherpas. That day biking in the vineyards with you will forever be a favorite.

To our wonderful publisher, Taryn Boyd, for her faith in us and for just being a wonderful person to hang out with, as well as the entire team at TouchWood who invest their heart and soul in every book they publish.

More mercis to Lesley Cameron for her eagle editing eye, Tree Abraham for the stunning design, and Tori Elliott for her marketing prowess.

To Franck and our three daughters for being my loves and for maintaining a sense of humor about the fact that I was writing a cookbook. Bah alors, whos laughing now?

Lastly, to all my wonderful readers who have supported me through a trans-Atlantic move, a transplant, raising teenagers, eight books (so far), and who have been asking for this cookbook ever since My Grape Escape was published. I cannot tell you how delighted I am that Bisous & Brioche is finally in your hands. LB

Laura Bradbury

I never thought I would write a cookbook. In fact, my family dissolves into hysterics every time I mention this fact.