Little culinary triumphs - Pascale Pujol

A banquet of a novel, to be savoured chapter by chapter.

In a dazzling translation from the French by the translator of The Elegance of the Hedgehog, this heartwarming, droll tale set in the colorful Parisian quarter of Montmartre is a delight for foodies and Francophiles alike.

Made famous by artists, writers, and bon vivants of every ilk, Montmartre has been home to bohemian celebrities through the ages. Synonymous with transgression and innovation, it is today a bustling multiethnic neighborhood where cultures, cuisines, the past and the future of Europe cohabitate and collide. Here in this vibrant community, in Pujol's charming English-language debut, a cast of endearing characters fall into increasingly comic situations as they seek to follow their often-outrageous dreams.

Sandrine works at the city employment office. She has a volcanic personality and an imagination to match it. She is also a world-class cook who is waiting for the right occasion to realize her dream of opening a restaurant of her own. Sandrine manages to enlist some of the neighborhood eccentrics into helping her realize her dreams. Plans for her very own restaurant proceed smoothly until Sandrine discovers a shady newspaper operation next-door that leads her to a sinister magnate manipulating the Parisian news outlets.

If you loved Europa classics like Clash of Civilizations over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio, A Novel Bookstore, or Cooking with Fernet Branca, you'll love Little Culinary Triumphs.