La France aux fourneaux

Chef André Chiang is returning his Michelin stars, and has publicly declared that he is returning to his roots after 30 years. What would make him do so? How does the perfectionist define success? What haunts him at night? Following Chef André weeks before he officially closes his restaurant, we chart his emotional journey, and dive into nostalgic elements of his life. From how he first fell in love with cooking as a result of his mother’s influence, to the challenges that he faced when he first learnt cooking in France, we tell the story of a passionate and determined individual, now ready for the next season of his life.

Founded in 1930, Troisgros has held three Michelin stars for 55 years. The children of the fourth generation, Marie-Pierre and Michel's sons are continuing the family business: César runs the Michelin-starred restaurant, "Le Bois sans feuilles" ("The Leafless Wood"), and Léo is in charge of one of the other two Troisgros restaurants, "La Colline du colombier" ("The Dovecote Hill"). From the daily market to the cheese maturing cellars, via the vineyard, the cattle farm and the vegetable garden adjacent to the restaurant, Menus-Plaisirs is an intimate, sensory journey through the kitchens of one of the world's most prestigious restaurants.

The personality of Bittor Arginzoniz and the place where he lives make his cuisine unique. The possibilities of cooking with charcoal have not been exhausted, and a return to its roots may be admirable if executed with respect and vocation. Self-taught, Bittor has made his restaurant Etxebarri the third best in the world, and minimalism his trademark. The nature that saw his birth is its landscape; the grill and the finest products, the materials he works with. And the silence. Silence in its walks, in nature, in the coals, in the choice of adequate product and the exact point of its preparation.

In barely a century, French peasants have seen their world profoundly turned upside down. While they once made up the vast majority of the country, today they are only a tiny minority and are faced with an immense challenge: to continue to feed France. From the figure of the simple tenant farmer described by Emile Guillaumin at the beginning of the 20th century to the heavy toll paid by peasants during the Great War, from the beginnings of mechanization in the inter-war period to the ambivalent figure of the peasant under the Occupation, From the unbridled race to industrialization in post-war France to the realization that it is now necessary to rethink the agricultural model and invent the agriculture of tomorrow, the film looks back at the long march of French peasants.

For six months of the year, renowned Spanish chef Ferran Adria closes his restaurant El Bulli - repeatedly voted the world's best - and works with his culinary team to prepare the menu for the next season. An elegant, detailed study of food as avant-garde art, EL BULLI: COOKING IN PROGRESS is a rare inside look at some of the world's most innovative and exciting cooking; as Adria himself puts it, "the more bewilderment, the better!"

The history of gastronomy, born in France, is the story of an intangible heritage - the most carnal undoubtedly, but also the most exported in the world. From Antiquity to the present day, this documentary offers a look back at the evolution of tableware, propriety, the birth of cafés and restaurants to the emergence of the first great chefs, or even the history of vegetables. Many questions will be raised: how did the fork slip into our hands? With which king did eating and drinking become political weapons?

The story of a father and his son, or how to pass on the work of a lifetime? A movie about culinary art, tradition and emotion.

Bravo Chef: French Cuisine (2009) September 29th, 2009. Belmondo Entertainment. 60 Minutes. See the top chefs right at work! Working side-by-side with a top chef is a shortcut to mastering special tricks and techniques. A straightforward and hands-on approach renders lengthy and boring explanations unnecessary. A modern approach to the most sacred national dishes lets you master them without fear. The chefs don't hesitate to show you their treasured techniques, they understand that sharing a secret with a kindred spirit is a joy! Recipes included: 1 - Grilled Pike-Perch with Slices of Salmon. 2 - Pan-Seared Duck Foie Gras. 3 - Capon Bourguinon. 4 - Grilled Quail with Mushrooms and Spinach. 5 - Tian with Whipped Goat's Cheese. 6 - Escargots Bourguignon Au Gratin. 7 - Creme Brulee.

French chef Georges Perrier tries to keep his internationally renowned restaurant relevant in the new culinary world.