"The author's humble approach is inviting and shows why her students were enthusiastic." ---Kirkus Starred Review

A different kind of culinary treatise, one that focuses on practical, healthy home culinary tips, bypasses celebrity chefs and goes right to grocery market savings, butchery skills, and simple recipes. Marguerite Gavin's precise enunciation works well with the story of nine beginners who gained culinary expertise without drama or angst. The author’s Cordon Bleu training, replete with challenging French terms, does not daunt Gavin, who soldiers on in carrying out the book's intended purpose—demystifying cooking for the purpose of enabling beginners to embrace basic cooking skills to create economical and healthy cuisine at home. Flinn strives to bridge the gap between available food and quality home cooking by sharing food shopping tips and preparation strategies, which Gavin shares energetically. Only the print book's accompanying recipes are missed in the audio version. A.W. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine