The Splendid Table: Conversations & Recipes For Curious Cooks & Eaters Road Tripping - Steve Hoffman
Aug 18, 2026
Steve Hoffman, author of A Season for That, recounts moving to Languedoc and embracing rural French life. He contrasts Parisian fantasies with village realities. He explores olive-oil–led local cuisine, learning to cook for family through advice from vendors and neighbors. He describes small moments at the table with his children and how working in vineyards taught him the region’s wine culture.
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Choosing Languedoc To Live Like Locals
- Steve Hoffman chose Languedoc over Provence mainly for cost and to immerse his kids in French schools.
- The family expected glamorous Provence but purposely picked a cheaper, less touristed region to perfect their children's language.
The Village That Wasn’t Paris
- Arriving in the village shattered Steve's Parisian fantasy as he found tractors, dusty streets, and workers in overalls.
- The place was rural, scratchy, and far from the polished, romantic image of southern France he idolized.
France Divided By Fats
- Waverly Root’s framework divides French cuisine by dominant fats: butter, lard, and olive oil.
- Steve realized he'd lived in the butter/lard France but landed in Mediterranean olive oil country with different flavors.
