OP: One Day at The French Laundry/ One Day at Per Se

Bent C Guide Forlag ApS, 2010. Hardcover. Very Good.

One Day at The French Laundry/ One Day at Per Se (2010) is one of a series of books—which also includes One Day at Mugaritz (2006) and One Day at Geranium (2017)—published by the Denmark-based Bent Christensen. 

Each volume tackles the theme a little differently with this one taking the most biographical approach to the restaurants and their staff; the emphasis is, of course, on Thomas Keller. Christensen, by his own description, attaches himself to Keller as a conjoined twin to fully immerse himself in the day-to-day of the two restaurants. Tête-bêche bound—meaning you’ll read half one direction and have to flip the book over to read the other—with the French Laundry portion printed on matte paper and Per Se on glossy, it is a playful and creative design choice mirroring the concept.

Both “sides” of the book feature Claes Bech-Poulsen’s stunning photographs, many of which are done in extreme close up, giving the food in particular a larger-than-life quality. No recipes are included, but devotees of Keller will undoubtedly find inspiration in the imagery and philosophy.

Our copy is in Very Good condition, without dust jacket as issued. Bilingual in Danish and English.