Chez Jacques: Traditions and Rituals of a Cook - Jacques Pepin

Hardback.  Near new condition.  2007

Chez Jacques is a visual autobiography of one of America's most beloved cooking teachers, cookbook authors, and television personalities.  Here, Jacques Pepin presents 100 of his favourite recipes culled from a lifetime of cooking professionally.

The book highlights the food rituals that have shaped Pepin's life, from picking the first dandelion greens for a spring salad to mushrooming in the woods in summer.  This storytelling format allows Pepin to present the recipes in a narrative way.  The recipes follow the organisation of the simple meals Pepin enjoys at home.  From the special truffle and pistachio sausage to a variation on the elegant lobster souffle he first made while working at the Plaza Athenee in Paris as a young man.

Scattered throughout are fascinating essays in which Pepin shares his thoughts on various aspects of food history and cooking.  With more than 200 stunning photographs, the book is a sentimental journey, a treasury of wonderful recipes and a gorgeous gift for food lovers.