Relish: The Extraordinary Life of Alexis Soyer, Victorian Celebrity Chef
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.92 (804 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0753821966 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 342 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2018-01-26 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
V. Webb said A great book!. This is one of the best biooks I have read in years! Not only is the main character a fascinating man, the book also sheds wonderful light on the Victorian era and its foibles, energy and style. As the author of "Florence Nightingale: The Making of a Radical Theologian," I was particularly interested in Soyer's visit to the Crimean War to improve the food for Britain's soldiers.. "Alexis Soyer - Finally given worthy praise" according to Maxine. I first researched Alexis for an article I was writing for a magazine and the introduction of potato crisps.He was a very talented man and inventor and probably the first 'Celebrity Chef', and Ruth has finally givenhim deserving praise in this well researched book.Am only a few chapters in, and anyone interested in early cooking, kitchen design and food etc would findplenty of interesting reading.. "I love this bio!" according to EstherBunny. Everyone I've loaned this book to has read it at least twice now.We are humbled by this chef who lived in the kitchens of Queen Victoria'supper class. He invented the cocktail bar, reinvented military food, createdsoup kitchens and food to shore up the Irish during the potato famineanduntil now, you didn't even know he existed, did you ! Great read, hard to findand delightful cover to cover! Enjoy!
But Soyerin the spirit of his agewas also a secret womanizer, near bankrupt, and an alcoholic. A celebrity chef, bestselling author, entrepreneur, inventor, and Crimean war hero, Soyer built the world famous kitchens of London's Reform Club and filled them with such ingenious inventions as the gas stove and steam lifts. Rarely has a man defined the spirit of an age as well as Alexis Soyer. His friend Florence Nightingale, never one to praise lightly, wrote that his passing was "a great disaster for the nation." Despite making several fortunes Soyer died penniless. In the 1840s he established soup kitchens during the Irish potato faminea revolutionary concept at the timeand in the following decade risked his life by traveling to the Russian peninsula to reform army catering for the troops, saving thousands of soldiers from the effects of malnutrition. Despite the fame of his lifetime, Soyer dropped completely from the public eye after his untimely death. His personal papers were destroyed, his funeral a hushed-up affair, and today his grave lies neglected and rotting. This is the story of one of the Victorian age’s most favoredand soon forgottenshining stars.