Apéritif: Cocktail Hour the French Way: A Recipe Book

JAMES BEARD AWARD FINALIST • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST COOKBOOKS OF THE YEAR BY FOOD NETWORK

Get a light beverage and a nibble, and appreciate mixed drink hour, the French way.

For the French, the transitory recess between a long workday and the night dinner to come isn't intended to be tumultuous or crazed. Rather, that time is a truly necessary opportunity to delay, calmly inhale, and reset with light beverages and bites. Regardless of whether it's a brisk undertaking before running out the entryway to your preferred Parisian bistro or a lead-up to a more rich gathering, Apéritif is tied in with commencing the night, stirring the hunger, and doing as such with the joyful soul of association and gaiety. Apéritif praises that agreeable way of life with basic yet snappy plans for both exemplary and present day French apéritif-style mixed drinks, alongside French-propelled nibbles and appetizers.

Holding consistent with the apéritif convention, you'll discover mixed drink plans that utilization lighter, low-liquor spirits, invigorated wines, and harsh alcohols. The great beverages have impacts from both Old World and New, yet are in every case low complain and served scarcely adorned—a simple accomplishment to pull off for the casual host at home.

Apéritif additionally offers plans for similarly windy chomps, for example, Radishes with Poppy Butter, Gougères, Ratatouille Dip, and Buckwheat-Sel Gris Crackers. For nights that are about straightforwardness and receptiveness without relinquishing style or flavor, Apéritif makes drinking and engaging at home as easy, fun, and bubbly as the contributions themselves

About the Author
REBEKAH PEPPLER is an American writer and food stylist living in Paris. Her clients include the New York Times, Bon Appétit, Real Simple, Food Network, and multiple cookbooks. You can find more on rebekahpeppler.com and instagram.com/rebekahpeppler.

My best friend Jen was with me when I opened up Rebekah Peppler’s Aperitif book. We both oohed and ahhed over the gorgeous photos of the food and drink. We’ve already made plans to host an Aperitif party where everyone has to make a drink and an appetizer from the book. The author comes across as your super-beautiful, super-smart AND funny friend who knows a lot about how the French fill their time before dinner with awesome drinks and snacks. Parts of the book made me laugh out loud. Peppler recommended Shots de Sherry as a drink “best drunk with just deux, when you’re straddling both the winter/spring line and maybe someone sexy.” So clever, with a slightly naughty twist. Even the Table of Contents with its unpretentious and incredibly helpful titles delighted me. The book is divided into what to make depending on the temperature from “Warm: drinks for when the weather is just right” to “Cold: when it’s too damn cold out chapter.” Since I live in the Frozen Tundra of Wisconsin, I will pay a lot of attention to the offerings for less than temperate conditions and picture myself amidst friends, sitting on the banks of the Seine with drink and snack in hand. -G. Lim

Upon receiving Apéritif I knew immediately that I was in for a treat. I initially noticed how lovely the photos are, they completely evoke the French and Parisian spirit us Americans fawn over (and for good reason). But what sells the whole book is Peppler's bright and funny writing! I sat reading this book for a while before jumping into it and trying an apéritif (prior to stocking my bar the only relevant tools I had were some Aperol and prosecco). With each drink comes some bright and effervescent commentary along with easy to follow instructions. I haven't explored the food as thoroughly but I can't wait to try them out at my weekly gathering with friends. -Katherine

Remember that feeling when you read Kerouacs On The Road in high school and then immediately wanted to run off on a cross country trip and never look back?? Well, this book gave me that same urgency, but this time it was to my local liquor store to stock up on vermouth and Lillet. If you cant up and move to Paris - like this author did - seriously, the next best thing is getting to read this book. I havent gotten a chance to make any of the recipes yet (although I DID make a Lillet Rouge and Tonic last night and it was delicious!), but I love her intros to each - her writing is so sincere, witty, insightful. I like her observations of the French culture that only a non-French person would ever be able to articulate. The images are gorgeous too - energetic, natural and lifestyle-y. Can't wait to dig deeper into this sweet little book. -Liz C.