I haven't finished this book yet, but I have read enough of Jacques Pepin's The Apprentice to know that I love this book! From Pepin's childhood summers spent on country farms to his apprenticeship and work in some of the best hotel kitchens in France to a stint cooking for Charles DeGaulle and then finally his adventures in America, I was completely taken by this story. I found myself amused as I read about Pepin's exploits as a young apprentice and amazed as I read about his experiences cooking for important French and international officials.

I was especially taken by the author's descriptions of food. Though I wouldn't want to find myself cooking--or even eating--most of the dishes Pepin described, his culinary sketches show such a true love of food that it is hard not to smile and imagine myself at one of his events.



Equally engaging were Pepin's stories of his life in America. As a chef in Howard Johnson's test kitchen, Pepin was instrumental in the success of chain restaurants in the United States. I celebrated with the chef as he fell in love and started a family. And there were always those amazing descriptions of food and feasts with friends and family.

I think the thing I liked most about this book was that throughout the book I got the impression that Jacques Pepin is really a nice man. Pepin became acquainted with some of the most influential people in the food industry--chefs, critics, restauranteurs, publishers--and befriended nearly all of them. He managed to become a celebrity chef before there was such a thing as celebrity chefs with a combination of talent, hard work, luck, tenacity, and a good nature. Overall, this book is engaging, entertaining, mouth-watering, and quite delightful. I recommend this book to anyone who loves food and a good story.