Gastrosophy and Nouvelle Cuisine: Entrepreneurial Fashion and Fiction

Abstract

Defines the term “gastrosophy” and focuses on “chef gastrosophers” whose specialist field is professional expertise in gastronomy and hospitality. The position these individuals occupy today has been brought about by a succession of cultural, metaphysical and technological factors. Chef gastrosophers have progressed the aims of gastronomy, by becoming leading figures in contemporary cuisine. They occupy positions at the apex of the modern culinary hierarchy, having demonstrated individualism, entrepreneurship and a willingness to take risks. They set the culinary pace of the hospitality industry, and have invested in the cult of personality, freely utilizing public relations and image creation techniques. Chef gastrosophers have realized that the modern hospitality industry has a dynamic which requires the business proprietor to innovate, to create bold images and identities and to market these. The hospitality they offer is intended to be holistic, where a complete experience, offering fleeting artistic theatre, has been distilled from haute cuisine.