For all lovers of French gastronomy here is an invitation into the kitchens, homes, and markets of 14 renowned French chefs -crowned with 75 favorite recipes.

Dinner with a top French chef is an impossible offer to refuse; the chance to follow one into his kitchen and come away with his favorite recipes is a food lover's dream. The chefs range from the Michelin-star general to the unsung hero, and each has much to teach us about their passion for the products of their region, their inspirations, and their personal approach to cooking. Each chef also shares five favorite recipes, unedited, to enable readers to recreate at home the very best of French regional cooking. The candid photographs of the chefs at work and an engaging text offer insights into their signature dishes. Through their stories, we savor the diverse regional flavors and passionate creativity that make French cooking the ultimate culinary benchmark.

Jean Louis André is a literary scholar and travel writer. His passions include architecture and cooking. His previous publications include Dishes of France (Rizzoli)

Jean-François Mallet worked as assistant to some of France's top chefs before turning to professional culinary photography; he now contributes regularly to major gastronomy magazines.