The perfectionist : life and death in haute cuisine / Rudolph Chelminski.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Bernard Loiseau was one of only 25 French chefs to hold Europe's highest culinary award, three stars in the Michelin Red Guide, and only the second chef to be awarded the Legion of Honor. Despite such triumphs, he shocked the culinary world by taking his own life in February 2003 as rumors swirled that he was on the verge of losing a Michelin star (a prediction that proved to be inaccurate). Journalist Chelminski, who befriended Loiseau three decades ago and followed his rise, now gives us a tour of this hallowed culinary realm, filled with competition, culture wars, and impossibly high standards. This is the story of a daydreaming teenager who worked his way up from obscurity to owning three famous restaurants in Paris and rebuilding La Côte d'Or, a man whose energy and enthusiasm won the hearts of staff and clientele, while self-doubt and cutthroat critics took their toll.--From publisher description.

"Bernard Loiseau was one of only twenty-five French chefs to hold Europe's highest culinary award, three stars in the Michelin Red Guide, and only the second chef to be personally awarded the Legion of Honor by a head of state. Despite such triumphs, he shocked the culinary world by taking his own life in February 2003. The GaultMillau guidebook had recently dropped its ratings of Loiseau's restaurant, and rumors swirled that he was on the verge of losing a Michelin star (a prediction that proved to be inaccurate)." "Journalist Rudolph Chelminski, who'd befriended Loiseau three decades ago and followed his rise to the pinnacle of French restaurateurs, now gives us a rare tour of this hallowed culinary realm. The Perfectionist is the story of a daydreaming teenager who worked his way up from complete obscurity to owning three famous restaurants in Paris and rebuilding La Cote d'Or, transforming a century-old inn and restaurant that had lost all of its Michelin stars into a luxurious destination restaurant and hotel. He started a line of culinary products with his name on them, appeared regularly on television and in the press, and had a beautiful, intelligent wife and three young children he adored - Bernard Loiseau seemed to have it all."--BOOK JACKET.

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