Escaping the stresses and strains of everyday life is something many of us can only dream of. But for two Michelin star chef John Burton Race the dream became a reality when he swapped the pressures of running a highly successful London restaurant for a farmhouse in south-west France. Based on the highly acclaimed Channel Four television series of the same name, French Leave is a memoir of this year. The result is a warm and witty portrayal of the French and their way of life and the fantastic collection of recipes developed and discovered while there. But it is also a highly personal journey of discovery as Burton Race faces the challenge of helping his large family adjust to their new lifestyle and embarks on his own quest for a new kind of life. One of Britain's finest chefs, Burton Race's biggest challenge is taking on the French -- at their own game, in their own backyard -- as he samples the pleasures and pitfalls of truffle-hunting, cheese-making and becoming a chocolatier .