Mini Book Review: Remembrances of Paris

Author: Rachel Reichl

A delightful collection of short essays about Paris from the writers and editors of Gourmet magazine, spanning the 1930s through more modern day. I picked this up in the final days of 2025 after a year of reading thick, chunky books because I wanted something pretty, and it delivered exactly that. Given the Gourmet connection, I expected the book to be almost entirely about food, and food is certainly the thread running through it, but it ultimately reads more like a love letter to Paris itself. One of the real pleasures was getting to know the different writers’ voices. By the end, I could often tell who had written an essay before checking the name. It was fascinating to see how two writers could describe the same restaurant, street, or experience and create completely different worlds. Recommended for food lovers, Paris people, and anyone in the mood for something elegant and transportive.