Although fiction, local writer Kelby’s book, evokes a time, place and quality of life in the extravagant Belle Epoch, then onward to the years before WWII, through the eyes of renowned chef Escoffier and his circle of family and friends. Her imagining of the characters, their passions, fears, dreams and dreams denied is wonderful. And the food, it’s foodie heaven, although maybe better to read about than eat the rich offerings described. My fault with the book is that the principal characters, Escoffier, his wife and his longtime love actress Sarah Bernhardt inspired little sympathy. On the other hand, the family’s cook Sabine just lights up the entire book whenever she enters the scene!

posted Dec 9, 2011 at 8:27PM

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