Everything to Experience at the Escoffier Culinary Art Museum
French chef, culinary writer, and restauranteur Georges Auguste Escoffier was born just outside of Nice, not too far from La Pitchoune. He was first brought into life and educated in this space, between Nice - the Mediterranean at its finest - and Cannes, home of the famous film festival. Beauty and inspiration flowed from the world around him, inspiring the way he approached traditional French cuisine.
While he began his professional career in the kitchen at the tender age of 13, he quickly rose to popularity. In some circles, he was known as the “King of Chefs, Chef of Kings.” Because of him, cooking was looked at with a different perspective. It became a more honorable and inspired profession in France. He inspired a movement that made cooking a respected profession.
Escoffier was an Inventor
Escoffier created over 5,000 recipes of his own, many of which are now used as the base for cooking globally. Some of his creations were thought up and named after people he knew, knew of, or loved (whether he knew them or not). Peach Melba (Nellie Melba), Cherries Jubilee (Queen Victoria’s Jubilee), and Dauphine Potatoes (the French court of the Dauphine) are all staples in the kitchen, and can all trace their origins back to Escoffier.
Escoffier was an Innovator
Escoffier introduced tomatoes to the world of commercial canning. It is because of him that you can enjoy your favorite pasta sauce almost on-the-go. He is the reason you can add a quick tomato here and there to your favorite recipes, even if fresh produce isn’t an option. This innovation alone was enough to almost completely reinvent the restaurant industry.
Escoffier is also to thank for the concept of “fine dining,” which he essentially invented through his partnership with The Ritz. He was eventually knighted for his laundry list of accomplishments, and was known as the Ambassador of French cuisine.
Learn More at The Escoffier Museum of Culinary Art
A museum now rests where he was born, in that quaint, Provencal, 18th century home in Villeneuve-Loubet. Managed by the Auguste Escoffier Foundation the Escoffier Museum of Culinary Art is the only Museum of Culinary Art in France. Here, the world of gastronomy - and the mastermind behind so much of it - are readily available to you.
You can take a one-hour guided tour with your family, friends, or company for a small entrance fee. Or, feel free to peruse the grounds (respectfully) on your own. Seasonal delights - like Peach Melba tasting options from June to September and other rotating options - entertain guests endlessly, while the property provides activities for children to keep everyone happy.
The Escoffier Museum of Culinary Art is open every day from 10am to 1pm and then from 2pm until 6pm, with the last entry being accepted 45 minutes before closing. Children under the age of 11 receive free admission. The best part? This museum is about a half hour from the property, so navigate to it - and the water - with ease!
