Good Taste: A Life of Food and Passion

by Alain Ducasse, Jay McInerney (Introduction), Clare Smyth (Introduction), Polly Mackintosh (Translator)

Overview

A memoir and manifesto from the world’s most Michelin starred chef, Alain Ducasse, with introductions by internationally renowned writer Jay McInerney and chef Clare Smyth. 

At twelve years old, Alain Ducasse had never been to a restaurant. Less than fifteen years later, he received his first Michelin star. Today he is one of just two chefs to have been awarded twenty-one stars. 

Now, for the very first time, Ducasse shares a lifetime of culinary inspirations and passions in a book that is part memoir and part manifesto. Good Taste takes us on a journey from his childhood, where he picked mushrooms with his grandfather on a farm in Les Landes, to setting up groundbreaking schools and restaurants across the world. He is now taking off his chef’s whites and passing on what he knows to the next generation. 

Ducasse writes a poignant ode to the humble vegetables that have inspired his entire cuisine and to the masters that guided him along the way, from Paris to New York to Tokyo. As he looks to the future, he reflects on just what ‘good taste’ means.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781913547677
Publisher:	Gallic Books
Publication date:	04/16/2024
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 5.60(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Alain Ducasse is one of the world's most celebrated chefs, and the holder . Born in 1956 in Les Landes, France, he went on to train with great chefs including Michel Guérard, Gaston Lenôtre, Alain Chapel and Roger Vergé. In 2005, he became the first chef to simultaneously run three Michelin three-starred restaurants. He has set up schools, created factories and opened restaurants across the world, most notably in Japan, the United States and London. 

Jay McInerney is an American novelist, screenwriter and wine critic. His novels include Bright Lights, Big City, Ransom, Story of My Life, Brightness Falls and The Last of the Savages.

Clare Smyth MBE is the first and only British female chef to hold three Michelin stars. Born on a farm in County Antrim, she moved to England at the age of sixteen, building a career that included working at Alain Ducasse’s the Louis XV in Monaco and with Gordon Ramsay for thirteen years. Her first restaurant, Core, opened in London in August 2017.

Table of Contents

1. Earth and Wood
2. School, the Schools
3. The Mediterranean Adventures
4. Paris, New York and Tokyo
5. The Factories
6. The Maison du Peuple

Editorial Reviews

'Good Taste is a fascinating read' Esquire

'[Ducasse's] memoir will provide inspiration to readers in any walk of life' Booklist

'Alain Ducasse is the stuff of culinary legend, and paved the way in championing local and healthy eating long before it became trendy. His stars are testament to his brilliance, much of which is shared in this book, in which he has effortlessly combined his own inspirations, philosophies and vision to create a heartfelt memoir. There is so much to learn from Chef Ducasse, and I hope that this book is used as a manual to inspire chefs for generations to come.' Michel Roux Jr. 

'How best to introduce you to Alain Ducasse? He is a legend in the culinary world - as Björn Borg is to tennis and Billie Holiday to jazz. To me he is so much more. He is a master, who taught me the meaning of farm-to-table, the value of using locally sourced ingredients and establishing trusting relationships with artisans and producers. And he is a friend. He showed me how to be both respectful of the past and contemporary, and all these lessons at Louis XV were incredibly valuable and played a crucial role in guiding my decision to open Osteria Francescana.' Massimo Bottura 

'Chef Ducasse’s impact on the culinary world is exceptional. He has been a tireless advocate for French cuisine and l'art de la table all around the world. In this book, he shares his invaluable wisdom, experience, and talent with us.' Eric Ripert

'Alain Ducasse transformed the role of the chef in public consciousness – allowing it to be seen not just as a profession but as an art form. He made a whole generation of us proud to pursue this craft. Most importantly, though, he has been so generous with sharing his recipes and wisdom. To me, this makes him the greatest chef of our time.' Daniel Humm

'Unlike those of us who first entered a kitchen with dull knives and half baked ideas, Alain Ducasse appears to have arrived fully formed, with a Jedi-like command of technique and a preternatural gift for deliciousness. Good Taste is a peek behind the magic - including the excruciatingly hard work, the risks and the failures. You will come away with an even deeper respect and sense of awe for the greatest chef of our generation' Dan Barber

'Having lunch with Alain Ducasse in one of his beautiful Parisian restaurants is like playing golf with Tiger Woods, or discussing politics with Winston Churchill, or attending a reading by Mark Twain in a crowded bookstore.' John Grisham

'I am still learning from Chef Ducasse. He is just as inspirational to me now as he was at the beginning of my career, and I’m certain that this book, with all the knowledge it contains, will guide and inspire generations of chefs to come.' Clare Smyth

'M. Ducasse's evolution as a chef is extraordinary: From his years learning to master and perfect the classics, then a creative approach to traditional gastronomy through to his more recent celebration of vegetarian dishes that combine finesse with beautiful flavours. He's a man for all seasons.' Richard Vines

From the Publisher