Flavors of the Mediterranean

by Olivier Baussan

Following his internationally best-selling book on olive oil with chef Jacques Chibois, author Olivier Baussan has teamed up with another talented chef, Jean-Marie Meulien, to give readers recipes... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 2080300407
• ISBN13: 9782080300409
• Release Date: September 2007
• Publisher: Flammarion-Pere Castor
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 2.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 8.6" x 11.2"

Customer Reviews

Wonderful watercolors of glorious Italy!

I have loved Italy since I was a child, something about the people, the food, the great scenery, old, historic monuments, there is just so much to learn about and appreciate, and this wonderful gem of a sketchbook does just that. Florine Asch takes us on a Grand Tour of Italy which is brought to life by her amazing, beautiful, detailed watercolors - MIlan & the Lakes [also noteworthy are depictions of daily life like in the bustling markets], Verona, Venice, Florence, Rome [the Piazza Navona], the Bay of Naples & Sicily. It is a riot of color, a lush depiction of Italian life, and the beautiful rendering of the Italian countryside & cities. A wonderful addition to the Sketchbooks series [of which I am a collector].

Absolutely worth the money!

Usually, I simply rate items based on whether I like them or not, but Florine Asch's "My Italian Sketchbook" was worth the effort of a comment. I borrowed this book from the library and have now purchased this book because I was astounded by the beauty and volume of drawings in this Sketchbook. The sketches are absolutely superb and nowhere close to being the rigid architecturally perfect "sketches" which I have seen in other books. Now I greatly respect the talent that it takes to do those other sketches but as a fellow watercolorist, I prefer the looser quality and nature of Ms. Asch's. Hopefully she has future holidays planned and thus future sketchbooks. As a side note, I would love to see the two sketchbooks relating to France (one in Paris and another in Alsace, I believe) of hers which seem to be very difficult to get here in the U.S. Highly recommend this book. It is beautiful and gives one a strong desire to travel!

More than 5 stars

Beautiful book. The artist makes even the most mundane object interesting. Inspiring for both the armchair traveler and aspiring artist. This is one fo the best in the "My X Sketchbook" series.

The Wonders Of Italy Gloriously Portrayed In Watercolors!

Florine Asch allows us to accompany her on a Grand Tour of Italy. She takes us along, at a leisurely pace, that does recall a time when travel was more about the journey than the destination. Dominique Fernandez, who writes the Introduction to "My Italian Sketchbook," tells us that "tourist" originally meant, "one who travels, not to arrive, but aimlessly, as the servant of beauty."Ms. Asch's attachment to Italy is palpable in her glorious sketches, all executed in watercolor. Her elegant sketches, 100 of them, depict the known sites, and the scenes that are rarely seen by the hurried tourist. She captures a sunset view of Saint Peter's in Rome, the beauty of Lake Como, a Tuscan landscape, the medieval majesty of Sienna, the Renaissance glory of Firenze, the Duomo in Milan, a studio filled with Greek plaster figures, a horse and buggy by Rome's Trevi Fountain, the carnival in Venice, street scenes in Naples, a Sicilian piazza, and marketplace.Florine Asch uniquely portrays the ordinary and extraordinary vistas, and views, of Italy. My tourist photographs never looked like this. A wonderful book to keep as a remembrance, or to give as a gift. Anyone who loves all things Italian, will love this book. I certainly do!