With the evocative title of three of my favourite smells in the world, I knew I'd find something to enjoy in this book. It is a memoir rather than a cookbook as I first expected, but it was still an enjoyable culinary journey and full of delicious descriptions that spring to life in your minds' eye.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I read this book in early 2020. Embarrassed to say that I forgot to post a review. I'd never read Mediterranean noir before so it was a new experience for me. I actually thought this was going to be a cookbook or at least a story with recipes, but it was a collection of the author's essays about food and Mediterranean culture. No recipes included, but I was not disappointed in this book. Vivid and beautiful descriptions of his journeys. It was a wonderful escape and a most enjoyable read.

I received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

A collection of essays by the late Jean-Claude Izzo, this little book is essentially a love letter to is home city of Marseilles, France. Izzo, however, does not think of himself or his city as French, but rather Mediterranean. Izzo celebrates the diversity and chaos of a city whose people come from elsewhere. He describes walking down the street and encountering an array of smells, cuisine, and music all representing different places and cultures.

One of my favorite quotes from the book is, "Marseilles always exaggerates. That is her essence."

Izzo is best known foe his triology of noir novels that take place in Marseilles. This book also spends some time talking about the trilogy and their protagonist, Fabio Mantale.

Garlic, Mint, & Sweet Basil is a collection of short sensual epicurean essays about food, culture, and experience by Jean-Claude Izzo. Originally published in 2003, this reformat and re-release by Europa Compass is due out in late July 2020. It's a quick read at 128 pages and is available in ebook format (earlier editions available in other formats).

This was a sweet and nostalgic collection of short writings about the author's love affair with the Mediterranean area and more specifically the Riviera. The author was something of a renaissance man, poet, playwright, and novelist, but these essays are more personal and felt more open and conversational. Despite being listed in the cooking, food, & wine categories, there are no recipes contained herein. This is a nice boutique collection of short musings.

This would be the perfect gift for oneself or others, especially given that travel is seriously restricted and/or simply impossible during the current pandemic situation and likely to remain so for some time. I got such a summery holiday feeling reading this short book.

Four stars. Lovely work.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

Great book of short stories about food. It is like taking a vacation without leaving your house! Filled with nostalgia and connections. One thing I wish was that there were some recipes included. While this isn’t a book I would normally read, I would recommend it to others.

Garlic, Mint and Sweet Basil by Jean-Claude Izzo is a collection of essays. This is the first book I have read by Izzo not sure if he is my kind of writer. I needed to read it several times to make out what the author was trying to say. It is a quick read and can be read in one sitting. I really was hoping this was a cookbook. I did like the way the author described everything it was very vivid. I’m glad I tried it and now I know that this is not for me.

. I wasn’t expecting it to be a collection of essays I thought it was a memoir with recipes but I wasn’t disappointed. Such beautiful images it evokes of the authors native city, its inhabitants and the sea. Written with passion and love and wonderful descriptions of food.

Geography of possibilities of happiness

I’ve never read French Noir before. This was a delectable collection of short stories that you probably need to read a few times to grasp the authors intentions. Grab a bottle of French wine, a crusty baguette and dig in. This is a short read and can be devoured in a sitting or enjoyed in snippets. At the very end there’s a list of music preferred by one of the characters. I wish this musical playlist could have played in the background while reading the book.

This is not a cookbook, yet I know you think it might be with this title. It sounds like an awesome cookbook, but that’s not what you get. I don’t know if that’s why I couldn’t get into this book or not. I kept trying though and take it for what it actually is — a short essay collection. The theme of the stories involves culture, life and sure there are some food involved. It is still a well written and fantastically descriptive book. You will get a book about the author’s native home Marseilles including information of the food there making it more of a memoir. But, readers are brought along with the writer and you feel you are tasting the garlic, mint and sweet basil along with him. If you are interested in learning about the Mediterranean from someone who knows, including a bit of a historic look and perhaps some culture food thoughts too then it is a nice way to learn about it. Other than that it is a book to skip.

A book that lets you dream of the beauty and splendor of a simple Mediterranean lifestyle. Not a fancy one with Greek billionaires sailing yachts; instead, one that finds beauty and charm with the everyday life of the richness that can found if one opens their senses to the blessings this area has to offer.

Garlic, Mint, & Basil is a wonderful little book to read when you just want to sooth your mind and get away for a short while. There's a little bit of the sensuality of James Joyce but without the complexity. My only complaint is the extra piece thrown in at the end. Totally unrelated and not all that interesting. It came off as though they just wanted to throw that bit in just to get it published. Though short, the book would be much better just left with the main story itself which was delightful.

I really enjoyed this short book that describes (in exquisite language) the port of Marseilles in France. The author really conjures up the feeling of the streets of Marseilles, the port, the lighthouse, the markets. I'm glad I read it. I've visited Marseilles and it was fun to visit again...

These are beautiful shorts, tales of love, food and connections. His love for the city Marseille is written so beautifully I felt like I was there enjoying it with him. His love of food, had me drooling. Why wasn’t there any recipes? I wish travel guides were written so emotionally.
I’ve never read his work before but enjoyed his background stories on his noir writings.
This is not something I normally read, but I thoroughly enjoyed this little trip down memory lane with Jean-Claude Izzo

Why did I think this was going to be a cookbook? Let down by my (totally wrong and incorrect) expectations.

Honestly, while I knew the topic of the essays wasn’t actually something I was super interested in, I love seeing how various writers approach things, so I gave this collection of essays a try. I’m not sure if something was lost in the translation, but the style of writing just couldn’t keep my interest. There was nothing specific wrong with it, it just wasn’t for me.

I did not realize this was a book of short stories. I tried to get interested in it but liked nothing about this book. Neither the topics or style of writing appealed to me.

Although the title might make you think this is a cookbook, in reality, it is a compilation of various essays about Mediterranean cuisine and life on Marseilles.

It is an extremely short read with its paperback version possessing only 120 pages. Each essay is also very short, only one to three pages at the most, making this a nice book to read if your time is limited.

A book for the travelers of the world, or for those of us that for various reasons cannot travel as often as desired, so with the help of this book, we can transport ourselves to the magnificent city of Marseilles and experience it from the eyes and even tastebuds of the author.

Well written words can convey so many aspects of a story, and this book gives you a taste, smell, and view of Marseilles.

After reading this book is impossible not to fall in love with Marseille.

If you're interested in the background of landscapes and histories that inform Izzo's Mediterranean noir classics, this book of essays is a fine addition to your library.

Delightful! Deeply personal, sensuous, tasty essays about life, love, food, and the art of living by a native of Marseilles. The writer's love affair with the city and its culture makes this a must-read for anyone who plans to visit the area, and a delicious memory-teaser for those who have stopped in this ancient and bustling metropolis. I had just been in Marseilles the month before and mourned that I hadn't read this first. But this is more than a mere travelogue, or ruminations on food, it's an evocation of experiences by the writer who is proud of his immigrant heritage (the Greeks in 1000BC were the first wave of immigrant settlers in the huge, perfect harbor) and delights in its food and flavors. The essay on garlic is priceless, the tidbit on street markets brough me right back to the ones I had visited. The perfect companion on a cold winter night: Marseilles sunshine and the scent of herbs will keep the cold wind in another realm.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this unique, richly-evocative book. It whisked me back to my too-short visit and has put Marseilles back on my next Mediterranean itinerary.

This collection of essays by Izzo offers a wonderful look/trip through Marseille and the Mediterranean that engulfs you in the sights, smells and taste of his city. The author brings a beautiful Marseille to the reader with poetic language that does not allow for lazy reading. Although, I don't imagine reading this collection from cover-to-cover, the stories were great and stood alone very well while, simultaneously, melding together effortlessly

I received a copy of this arc from NetGalley for an honest review. I mistakenly thought that this was a cookbook and it turned out to be short stories about life and culture in Marseilles.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for a free copy of this ebook.
This is a collection of short stories set in and around Marseille and have relevance to food and food culture. It was. It to my personal taste and found it more of a book to read a story or 2 and leave it to come back to later. I appreciate the skilled writing, but would not seek to read anymore of this authors work.