French Ties, by Jane Webster

After years of painstaking work renovating an old château in Normandy, Jane Webster has found her bearings, running The French Table over the summers and juggling family life across two countries year-round.

In this, her second book, she offers us a glimpse into life as a local in a French village: keeping house, visiting the markets, restoring the walled kitchen garden, and indulging her passion for 'antiquing' at flea markets and antique fairs.

Above all, she shares the simple pleasure of cooking for family and friends – with more than 40 divine regional recipes.

We are not all going to have an opportunity to run a small palace and cooking school in France; however don’t let that get in the way of enjoying a book that celebrates home, garden and family.

Looking for a night out? Check out our What's On page.

This is not a traditional cookbook, although it does have recipes, but rather a portrait of senses.

Jane talks about filling the home with scents and aromas of jams and casseroles and you may be inspired to throw open your windows, cut fresh herbs and create an atmosphere of French congeniality when friends come to visit.

I have it on good authority that recipes work beautifully and the ingredients are easy to source, especially the chocolate mousse!