Yemi Adelekan is a food writer and blogger who was a semi-finalist in the 2022 series of BBC TV’s Masterchef competition.

Every Saturday Yemi writes on the Stray Ferret about her love of the area’s food and shares cooking tips – please get in touch with her if you want her to review a restaurant, visit your farm, taste the produce you sell or even share a recipe.

It is not often that I get to do a book review so when sisters Kay Atkinson and Jill Laurillard from Yorkshire Appetite Food Tours invited me to their book launch to host a Q&A slot, I was excited.

French Food Adventures: Two Yorkshire Sisters Discover French Cuisine takes readers on a delightful culinary journey through some of France’s most iconic regions, showcasing not only the diversity of French cuisine but also its unexpected connections to Yorkshire.

The reader follows the sisters as they travel through cities like Caen, Tours, Limoges, Bordeaux, Carcassonne, Montpellier, Avignon, Lyon, and more, each stop offering unique insights into the food and culture of that region.

Having been on their Yorkshire food tours in the past, I knew to expect little gems and nuggets of stories that many locals would not know, and this book did not disappoint. 

A celebration of food as a cultural bridge

The book highlights their experiences in local markets, patisseries, and cafes, providing a vivid snapshot of French life. In Tours, for example, the market scenes are brimming with vibrant produce, fresh seafood, and artisanal cheeses.

In Bordeaux, the sisters discover there is more to the region than wine enjoying Puits d’Amour - translated into English as 'well of love' - which they described as little clouds of sweetness. 

This is a choux pastry shell filled with various fillings including red currant or raspberry jam and sometimes with crème patisserie mixed with Italian meringue.

Their encounters with French locals further enrich the narrative. Their visits to traditional patisseries and their participation in cheese tastings provide a sensory tour that’s as educational as it is delicious.

In the medieval city of Carcassonne, for example, they savour a perfectly cooked cassoulet, while in Avignon, they are introduced to the nuances of Provençal herbs and olive oil.

Surprising parallels to Yorkshire

Before they left Yorkshire for France, they decided to explore the twin cities of all the towns they run their food tours in – Harrogate, York, Leeds, Ripon and Otley. 

This gave the book more character with a bit of competition as they offered up Yorkshire’s alternatives to some of what they ate and drank.

I can’t quite say how well the alternatives matched up to their French counterparts, but I loved their many underpinning stories - the one about jelly babies is definitely one to check out.

Alongside the food-filled experiences, French Food Adventures offers readers a deeper look at the similarities between French and Yorkshire cuisine and history.

The sisters draw surprising parallels between the hearty dishes of Yorkshire and the robust, comforting flavours found in regions like Normandy and Provence. From rustic breads and stews to cheeses, the book reflects on the influence of geography and tradition in shaping both cuisines.

Pain d’Espices

I love the simple recipes dotted through the book and one thing is for certain, they have whetted my appetite. This is just one of the many throughout the book - Pain d'Espices, which is a French cake or 'quick bread'.

Ingredients

• 125g plain flour.
  
• 125g rye flour.
  
• 20g baking powder
  
• 2 eggs.
  
• 40g soft dark brown sugar.
  
• 350g good quality honey.
  
• 100ml milk.
  
• 1 tbsp of mixed spices – cinnamon, cloves, ginger and nutmeg.
  
• 1tsp star anise.
  
• Butter for greasing the tin.
  

Method

• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.
  
• Heat the honey gently in a pan, stirring in the sugar until it dissolves. Remove from heat.
  
• Mix the two flours, spices, star anise and baking powder together in a bowl.
  
• In a different bowl, beat the eggs and milk together the combine with the honey mixture.
  
• Stir in the dry ingredients to form a batter.
  
• Grease a 25cm long tin.
  
• Bake for 35 minutes until a skewer inserted comes out clean.
  

Yemi's verdict

Overall, French Food Adventures is a celebration of food as a cultural bridge. It not only showcases the incredible flavours of France but also brings to light the culinary kinship that connects France and Yorkshire, making it an interesting and insightful read for food lovers and travel enthusiasts alike. 

The cheeky comments bring a little extra to the book, making it feel like a comfortable blanket that warms your soul.