Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles
DVD IFC9599
Status: IN STOCK
Synopsis
Via London, Versailles, and Instagram, Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles follows famous chef Yotam Ottolenghi on his quest to bring the sumptuous art and decadence of Versailles to life in cake form at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. He assembles a team—a veritable who’s who of the dessert world, including Dominique Ansel and Dinara Kasko—to help bring his vision to life. The pastry chefs create a true feast of Versailles complete with a cocktail whirlpool and posh jello shots, architectural mousse cakes, chocolate sculptures, swan pastries, and an edible garden. Ottolenghi acts as our guide throughout, disassembling pastries to give us the history of ingredients that we now take for granted, like sugar and chocolate. Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles perfectly captures the heights of human achievement and the frailty of decadence, adding taste as one more sense with which to experience the Met.
Reviews:
“For such a sweet film, "Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles" evolves into a complex exploration of the symbiotic relationship between money and art, and questions what the visibility of that conspicuous consumption could portend.” -Los Angeles Times
“You can go to Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles for the delectable excess, but you'll stick around for the quiet, cautionary notes between bites.” -TheWrap
“Quite sumptuous visually and has some of the most amazing, decadent food you can even imagine.” – FilmWeek
“It's a mouthwatering and decadent behind the scenes look at culinary creativity.” – KKFI-FM
“Shrewdly balances a careful juggling act between allowing us to celebrate the breathtaking edible artworks that the film documents, while simultaneously demanding we question the broader social, cultural and economic symbolism of such work.” – ABC Radio
“A mouth-watering and mind expanding delight.” -KDHX