Originally posted by Rhonda:
Yesterday, whilst browsing at Times the Bookshop, I chanced upon this :
This book covers the life of a Michelin 3-star French Chef of international repute, Bernard Loiseau of La Cote d'Or, leading up to his shocking suicide in 2003.
I couldn't put this book down and despite it costing more than $20 (which is a big deal to me since I'm now in-between jobs
), and couldn't leave the bookshop without it.
Started reading it whilst walking towards my bus stop, and only put it down when I got distracted by a new computer game last night.
The demise of a powerful, successful man... under his own hands, no less! I'm so curious about what really happened and since I'm a foodie and admire chefs, this book naturally draws me to it.
Finally finished the book last night at 4am.
This isn't an easy book to read. In-between, I actually started reading "The Undomestic Goddess" and breezed through that.
There are plenty of French names and French terms in the book so it pays to know un petit peu (a little bit) French.
Chleminsky provides a good history of the gastronomic world in France, relating tales of the more famous and illustrious chefs in France's history. You get to learn about how the Michelin guide was born and how they operate. Best of all, you get to read about the life of a great chef who made it, and made it big despite the big odds he had to face.
You also read about how he was afflicted with Bipolar Disorder that plagued him throughout his life, and finally he commited suicide cause of Manic Depression. Sadly, at several points in his life, several people realised that something was very wrong with Bernard Loiseau but as with most other people with Bipolar Disorder, it isn't easy to convince them that they need help.
And so, the culinary world lost a great chef in February 2003.
