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Written by Joe Briand Monday, 17 August 2009 09:51
The Back Label
I’d been waiting to read "Au Revoir to all that" by Michael Steinberger and a recent trip to the beach was the perfect place to enjoy this in depth look at the history of food and wine in France and its decline as of late. For anyone who is a foodie or is in the restaurant or wine business this is a must read. The cuisine of France has been shaped by many people over the years and all of the major Chefs are hit on in the book. Names like Point, Escoffier, Bocuse, Chapel and Ducasse all are characters in the story of French cuisine. The chapter on Camembert and the attack on all unpasteurized cheeses in France explains in detail the layers of bureaucracy that have come to oversee and control food and wine in France. Along with the downturn of French Haute cuisine Steinberger also chronicles the rise of McDonalds and how it been a part of the changing view of meals by the French. The rise of Spain, The United states and London as major players on the international food scene can be traced to the French and a number France’s most famous Chefs and the author connects those dots for us. Some of my favorite insights were about the Michelin guide and all the hoops chefs had to jump through in the search for that elusive second or third star. If you need a beach book or just a great quick read pick up "Au Revoir to All That."
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| Joe Briand |
 Joe is the Director of Operations and wine buyer for Link Restaurant Group (Herbsaint, Cochon, Calcasieu and Cochon Butcher.) As a part of his job he routinely tastes hundreds of wines a week from all over the world. If he could have only wines from one region it would be the wines of Burgundy. He constantly reinforces the notion both with his staff and the guests at the restaurants that wine is not something to be intimidated by and asking questions is the only way to learn. Joe is an admitted cork dork but is more committed to drinking wine and the pleasure that it gives then memorizing obscure facts about wines that most people have never heard of nor have access to. He is happy to answer your questions as best he can. Please feel free to email him: thebacklabel@gmail.com |
