In the Kitchen with Alain Passard

February 18, 2013
What’s life like for a renowned chef running one of the top-rated restaurants in the world? To find out, cartoonist Blain (Isaac the Pirate) shadowed culinary virtuoso Alain Passard, in this delightfully engaging glimpse into the world of high-class Parisian cuisine. In a series of recipes and anecdotes that mimic the tone of a breezy magazine feature, Blain delineates Passard’s charming personality and Zenlike approach to cooking—an approach that strives to achieve a harmony of colors as well as flavors in each dish. Blain’s loose, freeform sketches perfectly visualize the brisk and elegant movements and expressions of Passard and his cooks, the confident patience of the chef’s personal gardeners, and even Blaine’s own humorous reactions to each heavenly dish he tastes. Many readers will share Blain’s awe for Passard’s entire operation and persona, while cooking fans will undoubtedly find it a privilege to behold a master in his element and sink their teeth into every page.