Auguste Escoffier: Memories of My Life
About this book
Memories of My Life captures the passion and vision of the legendary Auguste Escoffier. Here for the first time in English is the life, the philosophy, and the art of Escoffier - as he recorded it. Faithfully translated by his great granddaughter-in-law, Laurence Escoffier, the text eloquently communicates the warm sensibilities of Escoffier, a man who spoke of menus as poems. Here, we meet a young Auguste who wanted to be a sculptor, but was forced to apprentice in his uncle's restaurant at a time when "high society held little esteem for the profession of cook." We then follow Auguste Escoffier, year by year, through an inspired life that would forever change the job status of chef, not just for himself, but for every chef who followed. Escoffier's great love of food and culinary art glows from every page of his memoirs, creating a sensory feast for serious gourmands and professionals. Here, Escoffier intimately describes dishes, presentations, and original recipes. We are present as Escoffier creates the famed Peche Melba and offers it in tribute to the great diva, Nellie Melba, served in a silver bowl encrusted between the wings of a majestic ice swan. From a whimsical "Red Dinner" created to celebrate Monte Carlo roulette winnings to the coronation dinner for His Majesty Edward VII, King of England, Escoffier's passion shines through the details: tables smothered in red rose petals, the meticulous choreography of properly serving La Poularde Sainte-Alliance, his cherished secret recipe for Grenouilles Cardinalisees. In addition to Escoffier's original memoirs, this collector's gem includes historical highlights throughout the text; photographs illustrating Escoffier's world and original menus and recipes; a glossary of French culinary terms; and a concurrent timeline of Escoffier's career and world and American historical events.