Weekend Cooking: A Matter of Taste (Documentary)
Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page. For more information, see the welcome post.
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Way back in my young and naive days I actually thought it might be fun to be a chef/owner of a restaurant. Fortunately I saw reality before I even became a waitress. Regardless, stories of the making of a chef and the development of restaurants still fascinate me.The documentary A Matter of Taste follows the American career of chef Paul Liebrandt from his arrival in New York shortly after 9/11 to 2008 when his TriBeCa restaurant opened to critical acclaim. Liebrandt's rise was hardly the stuff of Hollywood dreams. His eccentric, envelop-pushing culinary style was often hemmed in by the people he worked for, leaving him either unemployed or slinging up-scale burgers.
A Matter of Taste is a frank look at the life of a culinary artist. Liebrandt, trained in France, takes the classic dishes as a foundation but then tweaks and twists them into something totally new. His plates are absolutely beautiful to look at and his standards are exacting. The taste must have been exquisite because his work at Croton earned two Michelin stars and the praises of every restaurant critic in the city.
According to a New York Times article written this summer, Liebrandt and his partner at Croton parted ways, and the chef's website mentions that his newest restaurant is The Elm, in Brooklyn.
For a fascinating look at the rise and fall and rise of a master chef, take a look at A Matter of Taste.
Warning: the opening scene of the trailer and the movie shows butchering and blood. After that, there is no more gore, but I know some people are sensitive, and I didn't want you to be surprised.
17 comments:
Thanks for the heads up about this documentary. I also like learning about restaurant chef/owners. :)
I don't get to eat at upscale restaurants very often, so I guess reading about them is the next best thing. This sounds good!
I think these books may be all about increasing tips - they certainly have that effect on me!
I flirted with the idea of catering back in the 80s and still think about it now.....but then when would I do my Old Food Cooking labs and catch up on my reading?
Thanks for the heads-up on this documentary. Would love to see it.
Linda M.
This sounds fascinating -- thanks!
Joy's Book Blog
I am a fan of foodie memoirs and had not heard of this one before. You always turn me on to new things and broaden my horizons! Thank you for that.
I used to think it would be fun also until you start watching all these TV shows and realize it is hard work!!
You find the most interesting films about food.
I did work as a waitress so know I could never be a chef. I bet Carl would love that film.
This does sound like a fascinating documentary. I'll have to check it out sometime, and thanks for the heads up about the opening scene.
I'll definitely check this one out. I'm always interested in what motivates people to become chefs/restauranteurs. It's such a demanding job. I can't imagine every wanting to do it myself.
I heard about this chef just the other day, and now you have written about this documentary. I totally have to see if I can track that down.
Hope you have a great weekend, Beth.
I love food, but not enough to make it my career. Like you, though, I'm always interested by those who have!
While I enjoy cooking, I do not enjoy it as my trade. I was never a chef, but worked as a cook (on more than one occasion and do NOT like it.) Funny thing, I would cook all day and have to come home and cook dinner. I have also done a bit of catering and while that can be fun, it is a lot of work. Thanks for hosting, I am offering an oldie, but a delicious one at that!
I love stories like this! I enjoy reading how writers write, and I know I would enjoy the journey of a master chef. I have no idea why I don't watch more documentaries, but this sounds like a good place to begin!
no food posts, no restaurant visits .. just sort of discombobulated by the time change
Always enjoy watching the challenge of restaurant work, but it usually just confirms my "not with a 10 foot pole" opinion.
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