Rebel Chef: In Search of What Matters
Written by Dominique Crenn
OPL BOOK SUMMARY: Dominique Crenn takes us on her life journey from early childhood adoption to a loving, well-to-do French family to the unique creative chef she is today. Her experiences with family dinner parties gave her insights into how the local ingredients brought together with art can be otherworldly (glamorous and fun). Crenn takes you along on her bold journey from France to San Francisco and as she worked her way through the ups and downs of the culinary world.
Crenn has a way of diving in headfirst while staying connected to her journey and vision. More importantly, she brings this into her kitchen with vegetable-forward meals from local and sustainable sources.
Crenn has a deep awareness of the connection of food to our health and the environment.
She shares a simple message: “that people should eat and consider where food on their plate comes from.” Her chapter on “The Ethical Kitchen” was truly inspiring: Crenn sees food as poetry, with vegetables at the center of her elegant dishes. While she is not a vegetarian, she understands that “too many people eat a meat-centered diet, when for the health and for environmental reasons, meat should be a secondary ingredient.” The chapter also includes ideas for how we can all eat healthier and sustainable for the planet.
In her restaurant, Atelier Crenn, all the dimensions of her personality come together. The dining experience is an adventure – starting with finding the restaurant (which does not even have its name outside!). Diners enter through a side door; the menu is a poem that hints at what the multi-course meal will be while never directly stating the courses. Crenn and her staff draw diners in and deliver a series of courses that joyfully connect diners with nature. Each dish in this vegetable-forward tasting menu features sustainable ingredients acquired from local farms and fisheries. The atmosphere is a deep, elegant connection with nature and your senses.
The book is an engaging and candid view of what drove Dominque Crenn to become an award-winning chef.
Available at Amazon.com.
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