14.-BEST FRENCH CUISINE BOOK

For the fourth year, the expansion of French cuisine cookbooks continues, with more and more books from many countries. There is much demand for it. French food was everywhere. Last year was the year of French food in Melbourne, as the Age newspaper said. The French stars are in Tokyo, and soon in Beijing and Shanghai there will be the same high quality presence in the restaurants and the media.

1997 Le Cordon Bleu ®

1998 US – Maguy Le Coze – Eric Rippert (Doubleday)

1999 US – Patricia Wells (Workman)

2000 UK – New Zealand – David Burton (Faber and Faber)

2001 Japan – Le Cordon Bleu ® (NHK Publishing)

2002 Australia – Stephanie Alexander (Penguin-Viking)

2003 Japan – Le Cordon Bleu ® (Bunka)

2004 Germany – Jörg Zipprick, Jörg Lehmann (Gräfe und Unzer)

2005 Australia – Shannon Bennett (Simon Schuster)

BEST IN THE WORLD

April 7, 2007

FINALISTS

1.- BELGIUM

Puur Provence

 Wout Bru – Bistrot dEygalières – Chez Bru

 Text: Erik Verdonck

 Photography: Kris Vlegels

 (Lannoo)

Wout Bru is very famous is Belgium thanks to his restaurant in Provence. He is inventive in his cooking, using pure ingredients of Provence. There is a happy, relaxed atmosphere in his restaurant, very different from other star restaurants.

2.- BRAZIL

Le Saint Honore

 Dominique Oudin, Ana Ribeiro

 Texto: Danusia Barbara

 Photos: Alexander Landau

 (Senac)

Paul Bocuse inaugurated in 1979 this restaurant in the Meridien Hotel of Rio de Janeiro. The book contains recipes from Bocuse and from the chef Dominique Oudin.

3.-CHINA

A Festival of French Dessert

 Pastry and Tart Pie

 Gu Jian Long

 (Food and Beverage World-Hong Kong)

French desserts are conquering the Chinese palates, as they have all over Asia.

4.- DENMARK

Tre Stjerner

 Bent Christensen, Thomas Rode Andersen

Tom Uldall

 Photos: Claes Bech-Poulsen

 Editor: Henrik Kerrn – Jespersen

 Grafic Design: Soren Damstedt

 (Aschehoug)

In all of northern Europe, there is much respect for the Michelin Stars rating, which is seen as the only real independent and objective system. This book is superb, and a tribute to excellence in cooking and publishing, in photography and design. The Danish quartet has with personality created a great book on the art of transforming selected products into ultimate experiences of gastronomy at the best of restaurants, the Three Stars.

5.- JAPAN

Allez Manger à Paris

 Text: Hideko Kogure

 Illustrations: Hideko Kogure

 (Kobunsha)

The illustrations by star fashion designer Hideko Kogure are the work of a true artist, moved by Paris where she lived. The text reflects passion and admiration for the qualities of French food.

6.-THE NETHERLANDS

Koken in Villa Felderhof

 Rik Felderhof and Other

 Photos: Gerhard Witteveen

 (Kosmos)

This book is essential for all those who travel in France. The information is accurate and very entertaining. It is the next thing to do being there, and if you go, you need it, it will be very helpful.

7.- NEW ZEALAND

French Fare

 Christelle Le Ru

 Photography : Vanessa Jones

 (Christelle Le Ru Books)

Christelle Le Ru is simply irresistible, and after her beautiful cookbook and its cover last year, her new cookbook is a delight.

8.- SPAIN

Foie Gras

 Andre Bonnaire

 (Montagud)

Foie Gras is controversial in some countries, and rising in others. It has a great future in Asia, foreseen by Michael Ginor, the Best in the World 1999 author of Foie Gras, A Passion: it is the only foie gras book that can compare to the masterpiece by André Bonnaire, originally from the Dordogne region of France. This book will be available in French and English in June 2007.

9.- UK

Tarragon and Truffles

 A Guide to the Best French Markets

 Anne Gregg

 Photographs: Ken Wright

 (Bantam Books)

Food starts for all cooks at the market. This is a great book, very pleasant to read, and most useful when you visit.

10.- USA

Brothers in the Kitchen

 A Celebration of friendship and fine food

 Entertaining at home with simplicity and style

 Michel Deville and Brendan OFarrell

 (Dream Cooks)

This is a great book which is a wonderful show of friendship around (French) food. The book is well written, and will touch any reader. This is one of the happiest books this year, and we recommend reading it.