A breathtaking novel, rare and moving, about the world's greatest chef and his unruly heart.
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Nov 14, 2011
Jacqie
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This was a prettily written book with no discernable plot. I couldn't really get a picture in my head of Escoffier, his wife Delphine, or Sarah Berhardt- their images kept sliding away, possibly because the writing of the characters seemed to be more about creating dramatic impact than developing character or consistancy.
There were all sorts of imagery that were beautiful (description of an Impressionist exhibit), but I just couldn't believe anything happening in the book would reall More...
There were all sorts of imagery that were beautiful (description of an Impressionist exhibit), but I just couldn't believe anything happening in the book would reall More...
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Dec 18, 2011
Emily
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First of all, isn't this a lovely cover, sensuously hinting at all of the good food writing contained therein? I do believe that it is the cover the first drew me to this book back when my Norton sales rep, David, was in town. He left me a copy of the ARC months ago but I'm just now getting around to reading it. Like that sweatshirt that my mom got me says, it's always a case of So many books, so little time.
This is the story of the great French chef, Escoffier, and his lif More...
This is the story of the great French chef, Escoffier, and his lif More...
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Dec 21, 2011
Ainee
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The cover’s table setting on the book drew me to it whilst at the library, so I decided to give it a try. It is filled with edible delights created by the famed chef Escofier.
The mentioning of Kangaroo, and elephant, as something to dine on is impossible to imagine. Fish perhaps but not rabbits, suckling pigs and wild hens. Again it is up to the individual’s appetite.
Escofier had two loves other than culinary; he loved his wife Sabine but left her to be with another and More...
The mentioning of Kangaroo, and elephant, as something to dine on is impossible to imagine. Fish perhaps but not rabbits, suckling pigs and wild hens. Again it is up to the individual’s appetite.
Escofier had two loves other than culinary; he loved his wife Sabine but left her to be with another and More...
Nov 27, 2011
Sharon
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Such an imaginative book based on facts. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and all the rich, vivid details of place and food. Escoffier is an important historical figure. The main points are facts: where he lived and worked, his wife, his mistress, and more. The author deftly filled in what his life could have been based on known facts she researched. It's a fascinating story about an unusual man.
For those with culinary interests, there are intriguing food tidbits, but the story More...
For those with culinary interests, there are intriguing food tidbits, but the story More...
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Dec 18, 2011
Terryann
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Kelby, N.M. White Truffles in Winter. unabridged. 9 CDs. 10.5 Hours. Books on Tape. Nov 2011. ISBN: 978-0-307-97034-3 $40.00. F
Auguste Escoffier once the King of Chefs and Chef of Kings was a passionate romantic, obsessed with the the 5th taste - deliciousness - and beautiful women. As his poetess wife of 55+ years, Delphine Daffis Escoffier, is in her death bed, Auguste reminisces about his life, his delectable inventions and his lover Sarah Bernhardt the beautiful, scandalous actr More...
Auguste Escoffier once the King of Chefs and Chef of Kings was a passionate romantic, obsessed with the the 5th taste - deliciousness - and beautiful women. As his poetess wife of 55+ years, Delphine Daffis Escoffier, is in her death bed, Auguste reminisces about his life, his delectable inventions and his lover Sarah Bernhardt the beautiful, scandalous actr More...
Nov 19, 2011
Sandie
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The first thing to remember when reading WHITE TRUFFLES IN WINTER by N.M. Kelby is that while the three central characters are "real" the story itself is the work of the author's rather vivid imagination. In it she conjures up a tale of food, love, and the love of food. Her imaginative journey into the life of food-obsessed chef, Auguste Escoffier, his unconventionally liberated wife, poet Delphine Daffis, and the "other woman" in his life - the bold, free-spirited Sarah Bern
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Jan 19, 2012
Candice
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A fictionalized account of the life of Auguste Escoffier (1846-1935). Such beautiful writing! I could almost see, hear, feel, smell and taste the story. The descriptions of some of the dishes he prepared made me want to prepare them myself. Although fiction, many things were true. He did win his wife, the poet Delphine Daffis, in a poker game! He carried on a decades-long affair with the actress Sarah Bernhardt. He lived apart from his wife for a good deal of their marriage. N.M. Kelby te
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Jan 16, 2012
Sara
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This book is as opulent and sensuous as the title suggests. Although the characters and narrative go through long stretches of poverty, war, and deprivation, everyone is so hungry for beauty and deliciousness and romance that they find it, even if they have to root it out of the earth. So the novel is immensely satisfying to read in some respects - the description of food and meals is glorious! - but frustrating in another, as none of the characters exhibit the same sensitivity and mastery whe
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Nov 22, 2011
Petrea
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This novel is about the famous French chef Auguste Escoffier who lived through the Franco-Prussian War, the first World War, and barely died in time to missed the Second World War. He was the most famous chef in the world and established a lot of the practices that are still followed in fine kitchens. This book is full of menus, discussions of food, politics, famous people, gossip, intrigue, a very strange marriage and plenty of romantic encounters with the rich and famous. I really enjoyed i
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Nov 29, 2011
Jennifer
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I received WHITE TRUFFLES IN WINTER as a First Reads giveaway. It was delicious. Although I have read books with food relations in the past, they have always seemed a little cheesy (not a bad thing). However, this is the exception. The book detailed romance and elegance. Who ever knew there were so many uses for fois gras, champagne, and truffles?
Historical figures played a prominent role in the story yet it remained fiction. I enjoyed the eccentric nature of Sarah and the ch More...
Historical figures played a prominent role in the story yet it remained fiction. I enjoyed the eccentric nature of Sarah and the ch More...
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Nov 25, 2011
Matt
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Author Kelby presents an interesting take on the life of Escoffier and his many contributions to the art of cooking. Possibly his most important contribution can be appreciated by folks such as Bobby Flay, Emeril Lagasse, Gordon Ramsey, and their ilk since it was Escoffier who raised the bar, so to speak, in elevating the "cook" from the status of lowly servant to "chef", a respected and financially rewarding profession in addition to introducing the organized discipline nece
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Jan 20, 2012
Silver
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A charming, witty, and sometimes heartbreaking story about love, loss, endurance, and most importantly food!
I found this book thoroughly enjoyable to read. I have always found the culinary arts to be interesting, and think it can be fascinating the way in which throughout time food has been used within literature. One of the things which I really enjoyed about this book is the way in which throughout from beginning to end food is used to convey a story, to inspire emotions and evoke More...
I found this book thoroughly enjoyable to read. I have always found the culinary arts to be interesting, and think it can be fascinating the way in which throughout time food has been used within literature. One of the things which I really enjoyed about this book is the way in which throughout from beginning to end food is used to convey a story, to inspire emotions and evoke More...
Jan 22, 2012
Susan
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As the world marches toward the Second World War, the famous chef Auguste Escoffier and his wife, the poet Delfine Defis, are destitute and nearing death at their villa in Monte Carlo. During much of their marriage, the Escoffiers have lived apart, due to his long affair with the actress Sarah Bernhardt. Escoffier created and named many dishes for Bernhardt, but never one for his wife. Now, together again, Delfine wants a dish created by Escoffier for her, and hires a cook with an uncanny res
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Dec 20, 2011
Anne
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In this novel, Kelby takes on the story of unparalleled French chef, Auguste Escoffier. During her research, she found few accurate facts regarding the man, so in this work of fiction, she takes many liberties in detailing his life.
In lush sensual prose she describes Escoffier's obsession with food and his ability for great passion. She tells of his time as a cook in the Franco-Prussian War, as master chef in restaurants in both Paris and London, and as a close friend to nobility a More...
In lush sensual prose she describes Escoffier's obsession with food and his ability for great passion. She tells of his time as a cook in the Franco-Prussian War, as master chef in restaurants in both Paris and London, and as a close friend to nobility a More...
Feb 19, 2012
Janet
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I listened to this on CD. The story of an acclaimed chef and his wife, a famous poet. (Fiction) At first it didn't interest me as each chapter has a gourmet recipe and I am strictly meat and potatoes, unshophisticated palate. But as the story continues, the chef's life story emerges. And what a fully packed life. His time in the Prussian War, events leading to WWI, his love affair (before meeting his wife) with Sarh Bernhardt, who was a constant source of jealousy for his wife as he and Sar
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Jan 08, 2012
Jackie
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I enjoyed reading this novel. It described the aromas and tastes of food so well that it made me want to eat things I've never wanted to eat---like truffles( except the chocolate kind) and foie gras.
I liked the interlacing of the chapters of Escoffier's "memoirs"( although he did write memoirs these are fictional) and the present time. I learned a lot about culinary history and a man who changed the operating methods of large kitchen staffs and the manner of serving.
I liked the interlacing of the chapters of Escoffier's "memoirs"( although he did write memoirs these are fictional) and the present time. I learned a lot about culinary history and a man who changed the operating methods of large kitchen staffs and the manner of serving.
Dec 17, 2011
Caitlin
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Quick read fictionalizing the life of Escoffier - the Frenchman who transformed the culinary world. The writing was a bit troubling. I looked up one of the historical characters on wikipedia (just to get some more background information on what she was like) and was astonished to read the same sentence, verbatim, five minutes later in the book.* Plagiary, anyone?
*The sentence on wiki did not reference the sentence to the author either - it listed a much earlier source.
*The sentence on wiki did not reference the sentence to the author either - it listed a much earlier source.
Jan 18, 2012
Gina
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I loved this book. It was a mix of love of women with love of food. Passionate and dreamy at the same time. Beautifully written and although it was only very loosely based on the life of Auguste Escoffier and it was fiction I felt like I entered into his life and learned interesting new things about food and about that time in history both in France and in England. It was interesting to find out more about his life and that of Sarah Bernhardt in my own research.
Nov 19, 2011
Stef
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The description of food was amazing. My imagination took over and at times I could smell and taste Escoffier's creations. The story, however, was slow to progress and skipped around the years too frequently. I also had a hard time stomaching the opulence of the dishes during wartime in Europe. I also wonder about the truthfulness of some of the characters, such as Bertie. I realize this is fiction, but think quite a few liberties have been taken.
Dec 05, 2011
Diane
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This is a delightful but somewhat simple book. There is no overt action and yet it is fascinating. It cover a portion of the life of the famous chef Escoffier, who defined cuisine at the Savoy and the Ritz. Although the story skips around, between different time periods, which was a bit confusing at first I decided to just delight in each chapter regardless of where in history it was. The main story is Escoffier returning home to his wife, who he had not lived with for thirty years, when they ar
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Jan 31, 2012
Martha
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The sad tale of Auguste Escoffier, French chef to royalty, celebrity, military and grand hotels. He is credited with many famous dishes and wrote great cuisine and kitchen management guides. This historical fiction embodies his personal triumphs and tragedies. For Escoffier, cooking was an art. I swear I could smell every pound of butter and cup of cream used in his recipes!
Jan 08, 2012
Lola425
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Lush, sensual novel. If you equate passion and food, this book is for you. Wonderfully written, evocative. It made me want to cook something--really cook something. I'm sure Kelby took liberties with the historical facts, but she re-created Escoffier as a character that you wanted to get to know, but I imagine in real life he was likely an insufferable egomaniac.
Dec 26, 2011
Amy
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Chef Escoffier, Sarah Bernhardt, the Ritz, the Savoy, the Carlton, and cycles of war between France and Germany. Rich meals. Punishing marriages. Regrets, maybe.
I wanted to be more excited by this one. Found myself (1) not caring what happened to any of the characters and (2) wondering about the author's structural choices.
The writing about food is wonderful. I loved the food history, such as Escoffier's learning about Southern fried chicken, and the food preparation More...
I wanted to be more excited by this one. Found myself (1) not caring what happened to any of the characters and (2) wondering about the author's structural choices.
The writing about food is wonderful. I loved the food history, such as Escoffier's learning about Southern fried chicken, and the food preparation More...
Dec 30, 2011
Lynn
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Nicely written, if a bit slow-moving fictionalization of the love-life of Chef Auguste Escoffier. I think I would have preferred a fictionalized story of his work life instead, though the food writing was scrumptious.
Feb 13, 2012
Ann
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I wanted to love this book. What a great premise: the life of master French chef Escoffier and his loves, including the renowned actress Sarah Bernhart, but left me as flat as an old souffle.
Jan 09, 2012
Judy
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I had such high hopes for this book, then had a rough time slogging through it. Great concept for a novel, but somehow the characters felt as thin as steam rising from one of the chef's pots.
Dec 12, 2011
Melissa
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I didn't get to finish this one, but of what I read I enjoyed. If you like historical fiction or historical romance but appreciate a finely crafted story, this is a must read.
Feb 02, 2012
Gia
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Ugh, why do people love the cooking of last century? The non-cooking parts of this story were not nearly as entertaining as Julie and Julia, and the cooking related parts were just a repeat of truffles and Moet.
Dec 23, 2011
Nicole
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A lyrical novel about French chef August Escoffier. This novel explores the inner life on people who are devoted to their art above all else.
Nov 20, 2011
Debbie
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I loved this book, being both a fan of French cuisine, and culture. An interesting fictional imagining of the life Escoffier. It was a great escape to lose oneself in the passion of French food. I agree that the holy trinity of french food should be truffles, fois gras and caviar. N'est pas?
