289: Anne Willan Talks About Women in the Kitchen

The Simple Sophisticate - Intelligent Living Paired with Signature Style - A podcast by Shannon Ables - Wednesdays

"The thread of all good cooking: the right ingredients, fresh and the way they should be - not fancy or expensive." —Anne Willan, author of Women in the Kitchen and founder of La Varenne Cooking School in Paris

One of the world's preeminent authors on French cooking, a James Beard Award-winning author and the founder of La Varenne Cooking School in Paris, Anne Willan joins me on the podcast today to talk about her new book Women in the Kitchen: Twelve Essential cookbook Writers Who Defined the Way We Eat, from 1661 to Today.

In today's episode we will talk about seven of the women featured in the book, as well as talk about Anne's time managing and founding La Varenne and much more.

Anne Willan's Petit Plaisirs:

  • The bakery Anne recommended - Evelina's Patisserie (London)

  • Find Anne's favorite macaroons at Fortnum & Mason in London

  • Anne's tea preferences: herbal teas, Twinings, Pukka and Yogi tea (no milk :))

  • Anne enjoys a piece of shortbread with her cup of tea, and Walkers Shortbread is recommended (shop here as well)

  • A delicious slice or two of cheese (just nothing stinky)

As many listeners/readers will know, Anne Willan has written many cookbooks over the years, so if you like myself did not have the opportunity to attend classes at La Varenne at one of its locations in France, rest assured, the cookbooks will offer the wisdom and cooking expertise you are looking for from French chefs specialized in their field of culinary expertise. I have listed her most recent which was the primary focus of our conversation today below as well as a handful of others, many of which are in my library and I highly recommend.

Cookbooks and Memoirs written by Anne Willan:

Women in the Kitchen (August 2020)

La Varenne Pratique, The Basics, Part 1

One Soufflé at a Time: A Memoir of Food and France (2013)

The Country Cooking of France (2007)

The La Varenne Cooking Course: The complete basic course from the Prestigious French Cooking School in Paris (1982)

Secrets from the La Varenne Kitchen: 50 Essential Recipes Every Cook Needs to Know (2015)

~The Simple Sophisticate, episode #289

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