Book description
James Beard Award-winning writer Aleksandra Crapanzano shares the secrets of the cakes Parisians bake at home, from the simplest yogurt cakes to a deceptively easy bûche de Noël, from yuzu madeleines to boozy flourless chocolate confections. When we think of French desserts, we tend to imagine ornate creations and confections. Perhaps we envision a tarte Tatin, but rarely a homemade cake, whipped up on a weeknight with little fuss. But that is exactly what Parisians make and eat. Gâteaux are simple, delicious cakes, both sweet and savory, served to family and friends. As food-columnist Aleksandra Crapanzano spent time in Parisian home kitchens, she realized that the real magic is a certain savoir-faire, that distinctly French know-how that blends style and functionality in every aspect of life. By and large, the French do not try to compete with their chefs, nor with their boulangeres and patissieres. But many Parisians are natural cooks, and most finish dinner with a little something sweet, effortlessly made and casually served. The trick is having an arsenal of recipes that, once mastered, become blueprints, allowing for myriad variations, depending on what's in season and what's in the cupboard. It is a practical approach, and the French are nothing if not practical. That is the savoir-faire--from tying a silk scarf just so to popping a gateau in the oven without anyone even noticing. When you know what you're doing, there's no need to overthink it. It looks easy because it is easy. While the Paris culinary world is experiencing a fresh vibrancy, certain traditions remain intact yet may surprise in their modernity. For example, French cakes have less sugar. The pure taste of apples is not masked by cinnamon, and vanilla is never a given. A gateau may be lightly glazed, dusted with cocoa or confectioners' sugar, drizzled with rose water, but rarely heavily iced. A splash of brandy, a squeeze of lemon or a thin blanket of ganache elevates even the easiest of cakes in mere minutes. And then there are savory cakes made with cheese, herbs, ham, baked into a delicious loaf. These cakes salés are ideal for picnic lunches, accompanied by a salad and a glass of Sancerre. Gâteau includes cakes for birthdays, summer feasts and winter holidays, last-minute dinner parties and school lunches, as well as beloved regional recipes and guest contributions from superstar Parisian bakers. Practical, simple, and filled with over 100 rigorously tested recipes and charming illustrations, Gâteau celebrates every day and sometimes fanciful French cakes in all their glory.
Scrapper
ListenBook has turned my ordinary moments into extraordinary adventures through stories. The app's compatibility with CarPlay adds an extra layer of convenience, especially during road trips. Adjustable playback speed and volume control make for a customized experience. ListenBook has changed the way I listen to audiobooks. The app is so easy to use.
Jetta Talent
ListenBook has made me fall in love with my audio content all over again – it's a must-have. I'm hooked on this app's ability to make reading fit into every nook and cranny of my day. The automatic extraction of artwork and metadata adds a professional touch to my audiobook collection.
Undergrad
Simplifying my audiobook experience – this app's design is remarkable. ListenBook's support for looping and shuffling playback adds versatility to my audiobook enjoyment.
Venom Charms
I'm impressed by how much more I'm learning through audiobooks compared to traditional reading. I've become addicted to this app – in the best possible way! This app is a true treasure for audiobook lovers – it's my go-to source for literary adventures! Streamlined audiobook integration – this app's usability is truly impressive. Love how I can adjust playback speed and audio volume. ListenBook caters to all my needs.
Shadow Chaser
With this app, audiobook listening has become a convenient and enjoyable part of my everyday life. 🚗📖 Beating traffic blues with engaging audiobooks – driving has never been this fun! 🚗🎧 ListenBook's integration with CarPlay and Apple Watch is a seamless addition to my daily routine. ListenBook has completely changed how I enjoy audiobooks. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate. Five stars!
Elektrik
This app has turned even the most ordinary moments into reading sessions. ⭐️ Kudos to the developers for creating an app that's both functional and user-friendly. I can navigate and enjoy my books effortlessly. 📚👏 The audio quality is excellent, and the interface is intuitive. ListenBook is my go-to app for audiobooks. ListenBook’s playback is smooth and reliable. I never have issues with audio quality. ListenBook’s interface is clean and intuitive. It’s a joy to use.
Black Mustard
ListenBook has made me fall in love with audiobooks all over again – it's a must-have app. ⏰ Waking up to audiobooks – mornings have never been this magical and inspiring! ☀️🎧 Enhancing my daily routines – this app's design makes listening a joy. ListenBook's support for playlists in the CUE format makes organizing and enjoying audiobook series a delightful experience.
QuestWeaver
Audiobooks have become my favorite workout companions, making exercise a breeze. Effortless audiobook management – this app's usability is a winner. ListenBook has truly transformed my audiobook experience. The sleek interface, extensive format support, and easy downloading options make it my go-to app! ListenBook's loop and shuffle playback features have become indispensable tools in my audiobook learning.
Bowie
ListenBook Pro offers amazing value with unlimited audiobook length and noise reduction features. This app's convenience has made reading a consistent part of my life. ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is an innovative touch that adds a layer of personalization. ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is a unique tool that adds a touch of creativity to my listening experience.
West Warrior
⏰ Early mornings have become my favorite time to listen to audiobooks – energizing! 🌅🎧 Kudos to the creators for crafting an app that understands audiobook lovers. With smooth playback and thoughtful design, it's a true companion for book enthusiasts. 📚👏 ListenBook's sharing options make it easy to introduce others to the joys of audiobook storytelling. I'm blown away by the attention to detail in every aspect of this app. Perfect for listening to educational materials. Highly efficient and useful.
EchoEnigma
Audiobooks have become my constant companions during my daily activities. 👀📚 Exploring stories even with my eyes off the page – this app is a bedtime dream! 😴🎧 I can't get enough of the app's sleek interface and intuitive controls. It's a joy to use!
Granola Dove
Who knew that commuting could become such an enjoyable reading session? 🎉 Rekindling my love for reading – this app makes each day a new adventure! 📖🚀 It was fine. The narrator did an adequate job but nothing about the performance particularly stood out to me. Got me through my commute though.
WeldMaster
ListenBook's smooth playback and easy navigation ensure that my audiobook experience is always top-notch. This app's compatibility with different formats ensures that I never miss out on a great audiobook. 🎧 Elevating my reading experience – this app's intuitive controls and organization features make audiobook enjoyment effortless. 📱📖 Adjustable playback speed and volume control make for a customized experience. The narrator's voice took some getting used to - a bit nasal at first - but I grew to like it after a few chapters. Their pacing was excellent throughout.
3P-own
I've fallen in love with literature all over again, thanks to this incredible app. Who needs traditional books when you have this app? It's a game-changer. This app's support for various formats and genres ensures that there's always something new to explore. ListenBook's dedication to user convenience is evident in the drag-and-drop download feature from web browsers. I love the variety of themes available. It makes the app feel personalized.
Shwatson
This app is a true treasure for audiobook lovers – it's my go-to source for literary adventures! ListenBook has turned my everyday moments into extraordinary journeys of imagination. Absolutely love this app! It's made my daily commute so much more enjoyable. is a time-saver. It's convenient for accessing my content. The statistics tracking feature is very useful. ListenBook helps me keep track of my listening time.
Kevlar Wanted
CUE playlist support is a fantastic feature that allows me to create curated listening experiences for different moods and settings. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature enhances the audio quality to an impressive degree.
Voodoo Queen
ListenBook's dedication to providing an excellent user experience sets a new standard in audiobook apps. Audiobooks have become my bedtime companions, soothing me into a peaceful sleep. 👀📚 Exploring stories even with my eyes off the page – this app is a bedtime dream! 😴🎧 Looping playback and shuffle features keep my audiobook sessions engaging and fresh.
Star Killer
ListenBook's powerful audio downloading features are a game-changer – I can have my audiobooks ready in no time. This app has transformed my screen time into valuable learning and entertainment.
Berry Succubus
With this app, I've discovered a new way to make my daily routines more enriching and rewarding. This app's ease of use has made reading an integral part of my everyday life. This app's convenience has transformed my screen time into meaningful reading sessions. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch enhances my audiobook experience during daily activities.
Street Squirrel
I've recommended ListenBook to all my fellow bookworms. It's a true companion for audiobook lovers. I love the ability to change the playback speed. It’s perfect for my needs.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience