The Apprentice is an autobiography of a chef who first learned to cook in his mother’s restaurant in the years following World War II in France. Pepin eventually went out an apprenticed under various well-known chefs in that country before spreading his wings, eventually landing in the United States. Not only was Pepin a classically trained talent, but he enjoyed stepping outside of cooking traditions. This earned him a spot among the internationally acclaimed chefs when the “foodie” renaissance took over during the 1980’s.
His stories are wonderful! I enjoyed learning the social as well as the technical aspects of classical French training. The author intersperses his own recipes along with tantalizing stories (and, I admit to making his chicken in cream sauce which was marvelous!) Pepin’s life is not only interesting, it is truly remarkable. Great book!
4 stars (out of 5)
Published in 2004
352 pages
