I have a confession to make: I am a closeted francophile.

Whereas my friends favor the likes of weeb-ism and koreaboo-ism, I find joy immersing myself in French culture and cuisine.

It all started with the Madame Chic series but, we’ll get to that in another post.

For starters, the Madame Chic series is about a young woman in visiting France for the first time during a college study abroad trip. I had found the title on a whim on Amazon, and to this day is one of the most life-changing books I have ever read.

The series opened my eyes to the beauty of French culture and with it, French cuisine. I sought to bring the French lifestyle so beautifully described in the Madame Chic series into my own life.

I do also own a copy of Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking, though I find that to be more of a dictionary of sorts, rather than an approachable guide to cooking French food for beginners.

Viola! Effortless French Cookbook is my number one pick in terms of French cookbooks. It’s short, sweet, and straight to the point, outlining no-fuss ways to cook your favorite French foods. I love how the cookbook emphasizes simplicity in the kitchen, with the perfect number of ingredients. I’ve come across several cookbooks and recipes that call for a multitude of ingredients and instruments, which don’t seem very practical for someone who is shy of kitchen space and time.

This cookbook is a great introduction to French cooking, or cooking in general. I was not raised to be a cook by any means, but I’ve realized that cooking takes practice and technique. And it really pays to know how to cook good food! Not just for yourself, but for your family and friends. With the modern world, I find it difficult these days to find peers my age attuned to the likes of homemade meals and cooking. So if you show up to the kickback with a homemade dish, you’ll be sure to impress!

The pictures of this book are also gorgeous (yes, it comes with pictures. I can’t have a cookbook on my shelf without pictures, which is why Julia Child’s dictionary is not my number one pick here) and it is a simple, approachable, and easy peruse. I love this French cookbook, it is my absolute favorite, I actually find myself reaching for it all the time, and I hope you’ll find joy in it as well!

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