Haute Cuisine (film)

Les Saveurs du palais poster

Haute Cuisine (French: Les Saveurs du Palais) is a 2012 French comedy-drama film directed by Christian Vincent. The film stars Catherine Frot as Hortense Laborie, a renowned chef who is appointed as the personal cook for the President of France.

Plot[edit | edit source]

The film is inspired by the true story of Danièle Mazet-Delpeuch, who served as the private chef for François Mitterrand. Hortense Laborie, a celebrated chef from the Périgord region, is surprised when the President of France appoints her as his personal cook. She is tasked with preparing all his meals at the Élysée Palace, where she faces the challenges of working in a male-dominated environment and dealing with the palace's strict protocols.

Hortense's culinary skills and dedication quickly win over the President, but her straightforward approach and insistence on using fresh, local ingredients create tension with the palace's head chef and other staff members. The film alternates between Hortense's time at the Élysée Palace and her later life working at a research station in Antarctica, reflecting on her experiences and the impact of her tenure as the President's chef.

Cast[edit | edit source]

Catherine Frot as Hortense Laborie
Jean d'Ormesson as the President
Hippolyte Girardot as David Azoulay
Arthur Dupont as Nicolas Bauvois
Jean-Marc Roulot as Jean-Marc Luchet

Production[edit | edit source]

The film was shot in various locations, including the Élysée Palace and the Périgord region. The screenplay was co-written by Christian Vincent and Étienne Comar. The film's culinary scenes were supervised by real-life chefs to ensure authenticity.

Reception[edit | edit source]

Haute Cuisine received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised Catherine Frot's performance and the film's depiction of French gastronomy. The film was noted for its charming portrayal of the relationship between the chef and the President, as well as its celebration of traditional French cooking.