Category Archives: Chefs

And still another reading from the works of Seymour Britchky

On the sad news of the passing of chef Roger Fessaguet, 82, much mention is being made of his career at the marvelous (and also dearly departed) La Caravelle. I did not dine there during his tenure (what with the rather young-being at the time), but certainly felt his legacy when I did so in 2002.

But La Caravelle wasn’t Fessaguet’s only venue. As noted in his New York Times obituary, “In 1967, he became an owner of Le Poulailler, a restaurant near the recently opened Lincoln Center. He and his partners sold it in 1981.”
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A Feast Made for Fantasy: An invitation from Craig Claiborne

I’ve always gotten a little flummoxed when the questions arise: “If you had a time machine, where would you go?” and “If you could eat dinner with anyone in history, who would it be?”

Two birds, one stone; clearly East Hampton, New York on Saturday, September 4, 1982, with Craig Claiborne and Pierre Franey. They get to select the rest of the guest list, because clearly, they are no slouches in that department.

I ran across this invitation at my favorite vintage bookstore over the weekend and purchased it with my hands shaking. Claiborne has long been my party-hosting muse. This is further affirmation.

And if I can ever get my paws on the actual menu, I may actually burst into flame — or at least host one helluva shindig.

A Feast Made for Laughter
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