Every Saturday I focus on a different artist that I admire. From potters to painters, chefs to collectors, seamstress to songwriters, lifestyle to lovers... anyone who set the paintbrush, pastry brush, hands and heart on fire to create.
Those who inspire art to flow where it may.
Recently my friend Karen published a new cookbook titled:
A Culinary Legacy From Escoffier to Today.
Photo via John Stoeckely
"Karen's cookbook is more than just a book with French recipes; it is a story of an 18-year old girl who found her passion for the culinary arts through her grandfather’s old handmade, wooden chest."One day Karen decided to go through her grandparent’s attic and found an old handmade chest. While she was shifting through the chest she found a ledger full of old recipes prepared by her grandfather while he studied under the famous Auguste Escoffier in Paris. Karen made a promise to herself that one day she would take all of those old recipes and translate them into modern English. Through this journey Karen found her own passion for the culinary arts."
"Nearly fifty years after finding that old ledger Karen has gotten all of those recipes translated and published. I had the pleasure of meeting Karen when she came to France for six months to translate, to create the recipes, photograph and work on the details of the beautiful ledger her grandfather left behind."
"While in the village, Karen met restaurant owner and chef Max Callegari, and they decided to collaborate on the book. Callegari helped Stoeckley with the translation and interpretation of the recipes, and the two tested many of the dishes in his restaurant."
Callegari recognized the influence of renowned 19th century chef Auguste Escoffier in many of the recipes, and at his urging, Stoeckley visited the Escoffier Foundation. From there they discovered that her grandfather likely was trained by Escoffier. Stoeckley's project so fascinated Auguste Escoffier's great-grandson Michel Escoffier, that he offered to write the forward of her book."
Via Karen's Publisher and Saint Louis Public Radio
A Culinary Legacy From Escoffier to Today.
Karen has kindly offered one of her books to be given away on my blog. If you would like a chance to win, please leave a comment in the comment section. I will randomly pick a winner by Monday.
"Tell me one of your treasured memories from your childhood?"
