Tarte Tatin Tales

What do one hat and five elephants, a garden in the sky, and a mother's recipe box all have in common? They are all delightfully wise and witty chapters in blogger Marsha Palanci's book, Tarte Tatin Tales. Topics as diverse as surviving a first job, enjoying summer in the city, and sustaining lifelong friendships are explored with candor and enthusiasm. As she does in her blog (tartetatintales.com), Marsha's own experiences are amplified with additional insights and opinions from a carefully curated group of friends. The crowd-sourced perspective gives the reader entertaining storytelling and much food for thought.

Tarte Tatin Tales is also a cookbook that will inspire cooks of all levels. Filled with family favorites and an assortment of international recipes, it reflects Marsha's childhood in Europe, extensive travel in her adult years, and her careers promoting cheese and then wine. Although Marsha studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and with other experts in French and Italian cuisine, she prides herself on making dishes that appear more complex than they really are. Her fifty fully tested recipes range from Fresh Pea Gazpacho, to Belgian Waterzooi, to—of course—Tarte Tatin, and are easily made by anyone who loves to cook—and eat!