Word of warning: Don't read this book if you're hungry.
In the last year of her life, the wife of Auguste Escoffier, renowned French chef, is determined that he will create a dish just for her and name it after her. After all, he has created dishes for many other famous people, including the actress (and his one-time lover) Sarah Bernhardt. Why not his wife?
To do this she must rely on help from their cook, a local peasant girl named Sabine. And in this time right before the beginning of World War II (1935 to be precise) and in very reduced financial conditions, money to buy the necessary ingredients is hard to come by. Sabine comes to the task reluctantly, not being a particularly good chef and not quite sure about this family she has come to live with.
The author tells the story of Escoffier, his relationship with Bernhardt and other dignitaries of the time. She also interweaves the story of his marriage to the French poet Delphine Daffis and their longtime estrangement. Much about his life is unknown but I found myself mesmerized by the author's writing style and description of foods and cooking. (And also, often hungry.) The novel jumps back and forth in time and is told from different points of view, including the last book Escoffier is writing, but I found it easy to follow and enjoyable.
I suppose this could be considered a sad book since two of the main characters are facing the end of their lives but it is also a book about love and finding yourself and hope and I enjoyed it very much.
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