My Last Supper: 50 Great Chefs and Their Final Meals / Portraits, Interviews, and Recipes Reviews

• Culinary Coffee Table Decoration. Clever but light

  
  By A20IIR0422G3A5 on 2007-11-06
  `My Last Meal' by photographer, Melanie Dunea is a culinary tabletop book for browsing while waiting for the host of the evening to bring out the coffee and brandy / sherry / cordials. It is graced by an introduction by the culinary journalist ombudsman, Anthony Bourdain, who adds some cachet to the book's premise by stating that the `game' of relating one's preferred last meal is a common recreation in the kitchens and after hours back rooms of restaurants around the world for decades, if not centuries.
  It is important to note that the principal author's primary vocation is photography, because the photographs of the forty-nine chefs / culinary professionals who participated in this project are by far the most interesting offering in this volume. Each pic is decorated by the chefs' answers to the same five questions. These are `What would be your last meal on earth?', `What would be the setting for the meals?', `What would you drink with your meal?', `Who would be your dining companions?', and `Who would prepare the meals?'. The answer to the second question contributes much to the setting for the chef's photograph, although I suspect that the chefs themselves had much to say regarding their pose and backdrop. I am quite impressed by the fact that the photographer and her team have been able to corral 32 people out of the 49 whom I recognize by both name and visage. In fact, I have reviewed books written by over 25 (over half) of the principals. The selection is so good, it's interesting to note the very few famous chefs who are not captured, such as Wolfgang Puck, Emeril Lagasse, Bobby Flay, and Alice Waters. On the other hand, we do get such luminaries as Ferran Adria, Jamie Oliver, Mario Batali, Daniel Boulud, Nobu, Rick Bayless, and Thomas Keller. And, every last one of the contributors is major, very serious working chefs, even though Bourdain, Jacques Pepin, Tyler Florence, and Lydia Bastianich are best known for work outside the kitchen.
  The first thing I find remarkable is how few of the participants thought outside the box of the five questions. The only two were Guy Savoy, who agreed to a portrait, but refused answers to the questions and, amazingly, Tyler Florence of various Food Network shows. Even odder is as original as Florence' answers are, his picture is probably the least interesting and least artistically composed.
  While I always enjoy Bourdain's writing, I suspect some of his perceptions about the answers are a bit forced. On the other hand, his photographic portrait is easily one of the most interesting. Part of Bourdain's misstatement may be the observation that most chefs pick very ordinary meals. I find this true of only about half the choices. While very few of the meals involve difficult dishes, most do use relatively expensive ingredients such as caviar, foie gras, truffles, Kobe beef, and Toro tuna. In fact, it's remarkable that across all these chefs with such diverse backgrounds, that me most common wish is for raw fish in some form or another.
  Each chef contributes one or two recipes printed at the back of the book. I find this one of the at least two annoying ways in which the book is organized. Why not put the recipe together with the section in which it is mentioned. The second annoyance is that the chefs' restaurant affiliations are presented in the very back of the book, taking up four oversized pages with information which would easily fit on half a page. And, for those chefs whose venue I do not know, I would have preferred this information up front, instead of being put into a filler section whose primary function seems to be to add a few more pages to this padded book.
  It is also interesting to tabulate the musical interests, which are generally pretty ordinary. Very few pick Bach, Mozart, or Beethoven. By my very informal count, the favorite performer seems to be The Rolling Stones!
  Another little parlor game with the book may be to find the two chefs of whom there are at least two different pictures. One is very easy, as they appear on facing pages. The second answer needs some digging.
  In the end, this book's primary value is as I stated at the top. An entertainment for foodie dinner guests. If you have none of these, this pricy volume may be just a bit too dear for the average cookbook collector. If you are a foodie who simply must have every interesting book published on celebrity chefs, then you must have this one, and it will entertain you for an evening. If you are on a budget, ask for it as a present or check it out in the library.
  Needless to say, almost all the recipes are interesting, but $40 is a lot to pay for 50 recipes, which are not organized in a useful way. Odds are, you already own many books by the most interesting chef / writers such as Batali, Bourdain, Oliver, Bayless, Boulud, Keller, Pepin, Silverton, and so on. And, if you don't, and you are interested in these recipes, you are better off getting the books with many more recipes in them.
  This book has much which is clever and entertaining, but it has little permanent value.
  
  
  
  

• MY LAST SUPPER

  
  By A2P0DCT81GBCHF on 2007-11-16
  I recently bought this amazing book
  What makes it so interesting is the fact itincludes so many of the world's top chefs all in one book. it was fascinating to learn about the chefs, their last supper and who they would share this occasion with.
  I think the author Melanie Dunea has hit a home run !!! what a great idea, beautiful photography..
  the book makes such a wonderful gift to anyone who is interested in food, chefs and photography!!!
  I can't wait for the author's next idea!! 5 STARS!! Geoff
  
  
  

• I can't believe this hasn't been done before.

  
  By A1TRU7AOVRJQJU on 2007-11-12
  What a great idea! It's a treat in itself to flip through the pages of beautiful pictures. It's so interesting to read what these famous chefs would actually want to eat for their last supper. And an added treat...some of the chefs describe not only what they would eat, but the scene of their last meal...music and company included! This book is the perfect x-mas gift for all of your foodie friends.
  
  

• I love this book

  
  By A1SRDOV70AXMDJ on 2007-11-21
  This is the first time I've felt compelled to review anything on Amazon but I'm a total foodie and I enjoyed browsing through this book so much. The photos are amazing. Each one is staged so differently and has a completely different feel. It really gives you a view into the chef's personality that I haven't seen elsewhere. In fact, some of these chefs I had only read about but had never seen a photo of, like Lydia Shire or Ferran Adria. Melanie Dunea really knows how to entertain with her photographs. I could look at them for hours. What the chefs say about their last meals is also really interesting to read. It also made me hungry. I highly recommend this book for foodies and anyone interested in the chef culture, or anyone else. It's highly entertaining and would make a great gift (I bought an extra for my friend who is also a foodie).
  
  

• A truly beautiful book

  
  By A39WWWUA0VUZ5D on 2007-11-15
  I LOVE this book! Though at first glance, one might think, coffee table book, but Melanie Dunea's "My Last Supper" is so much more than that! Not only are the pictures amazing, the chefs responses are fascinating. I really love how the photos reflect each chefs last supper. As an added bonus, you get recipes too! "My Last Supper" is a beautiful book with substance and sustenance (though not provided, that's up to you)! All I wanted to do after reading this book was to eat, drink, and be merry!
  
  
• Interesting work, but I'd like to see all the goods
  By AQQLWCMRNDFGI on 2007-12-17
  What an interesting thesis! What would be the last supper of a series of fine chefs! Melanie Dunea, the author, notes (page 7): "Chefs have been playing the 'My Last Supper' game, in one version or another, since humans first gathered round the flames to cook. . . . "If you were to die tomorrow, what single dish, what one mouthful of food, would you choose as your last?"
  
  And then, we see the answer to that existential question by 50 chefs.
  
  Anthony Bourdain says that his final dish would be: "Roast bone marrow with parsley and caper salad, with a few toasted slices of baguette and some good sea salt." So far, so good. We see his recipe for the marrow at the end of the book, and it's a bit different!
  
  What about Mario Batali? He'd like his last meal on the Amalfi Coast, with his family and friends such as Emeril Lagasse. The meal itself? Eight to ten courses! Beginning with marinated anchovies, to a Neapolitan version of a grilled cheese sandwich, to . . . And on it goes. He gives us a recipe for one item, Shrimp in Crazy Water--but not the rest. Would have been fun to get the whole picture.
  
  Then, Alain Ducasse. He would begin with a coponata (a Sicilian specialty), then roasted quail in Madiran wine sauce, then smooth celeriac puree with nutmeg, and a finish with apple slices. Again, boy, I'd like to see all of the recipes, although his Melt-in-Your-Mouth Apple Slices, which is included in the volume, looks pretty good.
  
  And on it goes. It's kind of fun to see what these fine chefs would have as their last meal, whom they would like to done with, whom they would like to cook the meal, where they would like the meal to take place. I find this work enchanting. But, again, I'd sure like to see all of the recipes for those final meals, rather than the small selection. Without that, this seems just a bit incomplete. Still and all, this is a neat volume.
  
  
  
• your last supper, my first dream
  By AT9LRKQLNWO0I on 2007-11-03
  Nothing like discovering the culinary dreams and extravaganza of those you dream having cooking for you... get yourself in between the boundaries of simplicity and sophistication, a territory where in this book all happens to be exquisite and delicious.
  Enjoy
  Pere
  
  
• DELICIOUS!
  By A3B1W2EMH1XDTC on 2007-11-19
  DELICIOUS! this book is delicious to look at, deliciously photographed, delicious to think about (i.e. the meals these chefs have chosen) and deliciously clever! dunea delights the palate with this fantastic book! thanks to ms. dunea, my holiday shopping just became very easy!!!
  
  
• yummy
  By AILMAMETAXYYV on 2007-11-24
  What an interesting book. The combination of the words with the photographs is intriguing. It is nice to see someone paying attention to the portraits of the chefs and not just focusing on the photos of food.
  It is the perfect hostess gift and frankly it is cheaper than a bottle of decent wine!
  
  
• Wow!
  By A1EPRXKECG4VBZ on 2007-12-09
  This book is a work art and beautifully put together. Such a great concept and conversation piece - esp the shot of Anthony Bourdain! I have also tried a few of the recipes - some are surprisingly simple but sooooo delicious. Great book for your coffee table and the price makes it a great gift too - there's something for everyone and they'll think you spent a lot more...
  
  
• GREAT BOOK AND GREAT CONVERSATION STARTER
  By A33L8A2K3IG27I on 2008-04-24
  I enjoyed reading this book and looking at the photos. The photos are great of many great chefs. I enjoyed reading that many of the great chefs wanted simple meals from their youth as their last meal, not some fancy gourmet dish. I enjoyed the recipes in the back of the book. I was especially happy that my 18 year old son saw the book on the table and started reading it. We had some very interesting discussions about what each of us would choose as our last supper. Any time a book leads to family discusses its a keeper. I would recommend this book.
  
  
• A wonderful coffee table book!
  By A3IY7IJVGGZSGM on 2007-12-03
  This was a beautifully photographed book, that can be enjoyed by the followers of celebrity chefs anywhere. It's fun, creative, and shows a different side of some of the best known chefs in the world.
  
  
• Inside the chef's head
  By ANJSYNS3N7YBE on 2007-12-18
  This book has great pictures of the chefs that capture their personalities. The stories of their chioce for their "last supper" makes one hungry. A fun read.
  
  
• Super size it!
  By A190ZAFSN0PVAU on 2007-12-19
  My last meal would be the Happy one at McDonalds. Reason enough to be enthralled by this book. Those of us who are not accomplished cooks tend to think the best food is complicated or impossible to pronounce. These chefs prove otherwise. A great big book that is an ideal gift for anyone with a mouth and saliva glands.
  
  
• cookbook
  By AD645X0P7YQG6 on 2007-12-25
  Our chef friend loved this cookbook for Christmas. He was facing a tread mill test for his heart...and it was sort of funny to give that to him at that particular time...fortunately he got a great laugh out of it all!!
  
  
• A Perfect Gift for a Foodie
  By A2M898OCHIU4LT on 2008-01-02
  I gave this book to my mother, who is a complete "foodie," for Christmas. She loved it. The photos are as entertaining as the descriptions of each last supper. It's a great book for anyone who loves to eat, entertain, or cook. The photo of Anthony Bourdain is worth the cover price alone...
  
  
• Review hard cover book
  By A21V81M0AV1XQ8 on 2008-01-08
  this book came to my home in nearly perfect condition. it was received very quickly and i would purchase from this seller in the future.
  
  
• Coffee Table book for foodies
  By A3EN1RU0DS3RWT on 2008-01-16
  Excellent quality book with beautiful and funny/candid photos of some of the world's great chefs. I gave it as a gift to a family member who also works in the food world and it was a big hit. The last meals are varied and illustrative that chefs like the good stuff, but also easy, everyday, comfort food. The price is now right on amazon and if you know someone who likes this stuff and the personalities in the business then this book's for you.
  
  
• My Last Supper
  By APTQ000G6UFT0 on 2008-01-27
  This is a "must" for all the gastronomes out there! This is not "required" reading for cooks, or for people who love cooking. But this is "fun" reading, as it is fascinating to read (and see!) what some of the great chefs of the world would think they would choose for their last meal. This kind of "game" has been going on for decades (if not longer) between chefs. It is great to have it shared in such a beautiful bound volume, to savor. Enjoy!
  
  
• Interesting, but...
  By A3QYM8R5QQ2LAZ on 2008-07-05
  The book is artistically lovely but the interviews too short and sometimes a bit trite. A few of the recipes are good; I feel this is a 'coffee table' book more than anything else.
  
  

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