Moveable Feasts - by Chris Newens (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A rising-star food writer takes the reader on a gastronomic adventure around Paris to indulge in its irresistible melting-pot of cuisines.

Paris has a justifiable claim to be the center of European gastronomy--but beyond its trademark terrasses and zinc-topped tables, what can its cuisine tell us about the city? Chris Newens, an award-winning food writer and long-time resident of the historic slaughterhouse quartier Villette, takes us on a delightful gastronomic journey around Paris' twenty spiralling arrondissements, seeking out, sampling, and attempting to recreate a dish that represents each as it is today.

Hemingway wrote that "wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast." From Congolese cat fish in the 18th to Middle Eastern falafels in the 4th, to the charcuterie served at the libertine nightclubs of Pigalle in the 9th, Newens lifts the lid on the city's ever-changing, defining, and irresistible food culture.

Review Quotes

"This is stellar food writing, combining a guide to Paris, a cookbook, and history with self-deprecating descriptions of the author's own cooking and interviewing. Although the title is a nod to Hemingway, Newens' vivid, witty characterizations and interest in people and food will especially delight those who enjoy Calvin Trillin's writing. A fascinating portrait of the enduring, evolving cuisines--and spirit--of Paris."--Booklist

"Food writer Newens takes a charming tour of Paris by way of its rich and varied cuisines. The result is a colorful portrait of a culturally rich city and its diverse histories."--Publishers Weekly

Early praise for Moveable Feasts:

"A deep dive into a city you thought you knew, revealing something much more complex. Newens is the perfect companion, curious and knowledgeable. A joy and an education for anyone who loves Paris."--Diana Henry, author of From the Oven to the Table

"A delicious journey through Paris. Chris Newens shows us the city from a fresh, modern and diverse perspective. He makes me want to follow his trail."--Sami Tamimi, chef and coauthor of Falastin

"A fascinating approach to Paris, multicultural and varied. It made me want to get on a Eurostar immediately."--Annie Gray, author of The Bookshop, the Draper, the Candlestick Maker

"A gorgeous romp through the city's culinary past and present that made me hungry for Paris. Fun, thoughtful and comprehensive."--Olivia Potts, author of A Half-Baked Idea

"A homage to the vibrant multicultural city of today, Hemingway's Paris, and the City of Light across all the ages, this joyful delicious book is a feast for all the senses."--Ned Palmer, author of A Cheesmonger's Tour de France

"An enchanting Waltzer ride around Paris' twenty districts, each of their hunger-inducing stories beautifully told with wit and intrigue. An absolute must read for Paris lovers everywhere."--Carolyn Boyd, author of Amuse Bouche

"There is a distinguished list of writers through time talking of their love of Paris and French cooking. Each new generation brings forth both the familiar as well as tucked away gems, both old and new, that show how a great city evolves constantly. Chris Newens does just that with this charming book on a latter-day Paris."--Jeremy Lee, author of Cooking

"Transporting the reader from the dazzling heights of Parisian fine dining to market stalls and kebab shops, this culinary Odyssey through the city of lights is both fascinating and wonderfully entertaining. For anyone who has been to Paris, it will make you want to return, and for those who have yet to visit, it will inspire you to book your tickets. Moveable Feasts is an utter delight."--Ferdia Lennon, author of Glorious Exploits

About the Author

Chris Newens is a writer originally from London, where his family ran the same bakery and tea rooms for six generations. After gaining a degree in anthropology from the London School of Economics, he moved to Paris, where he has lived for more than a decade. He won the 2024 Jane Grigson Trust Award for new food writers for Moveable Feasts.