Just another cookbook? No way This. "His-Story of Real Good Cooking" by Francois...is great. One can't wait to turn over to the next page...'peppered' with plenty of food related history, anecdotes, reflections and quotes with over 300 selected recipes, but this is only the beginning. To arouse the interest of great dishes and the one that had been overlooked by years gone by, I felt compelled to capture my 54 years of cooking into this book. All recipes are explained in an easy, leisurely, salutary and rewarding manner to the gourmet and novice alike. I believe this book is very special and stands out by traveling through time and antiquity, passing through deMedici's kitchens, cooking up a storm in our young Republic and complete the culinary excursion through the kitchens I had worked in as a Chef and Restauranteur. The second and last chapter describes the days of the "Great War," the years of apprenticeship, the way of life in the past...cooking in Europe and in America. The over 230 pages of 'tasty' adventures and interesting recipes from a seasoned chef should be of great value.