Danny Meyer – The Restaurateur (2010) + Guy
Martin – Portrait Of A Grand Chef (2008/First Run DVDs)
Picture: C
Sound: C+/C
Extras: C/C- Main Programs: B-
First Run
continues a series of releases on cooking that includes Kings Of Pastry, which we covered at this link:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/10810/Carmo+Hit+The+Road+(2009/First+R
Now comes
two new titles that are more direct biographies of two men attempting to
contribute to cuisine in new and better ways.
Danny Meyer – The Restaurateur (2010) has the risk-taker try to
open a unique upscale eatery in highly competitive New York City where he has been a success for
12 years. Tabla takes over a historic
building, spends the money to retain its qualities and tries to offer new kinds
of food, but will it work? Will it start
a new food trend? Will it be considered
innovative? Will it get good
reviews? Will people even eat
there? This lasts about an hour and is
worth your time.
Then we
have Guy Martin – Portrait Of A Grand
Chef (2008), a man who knows his pastries as much as his main courses. I liked that he began as a serious pizza
maker (a pizzaiolo to fans like yours truly) and expanded 20 years later to
become the chef at Le Grand Vefour, considered one of the top restaurants in
the world. Instead of seeing him under
pressure all the time (as we do Meyer), we see a man in his element, talking about
himself, his work and life. I liked this
one very much and it is yet another solid documentary on foodmakers.
The 1.33
X 1 image on Meyer and anamorphically
enhanced 1.78 X 1 image on Martin are
about even with good color, but not great consistency, aliasing errors and
other minor flaws, but are both watchable enough, while the Dolby Digital 2.0
Stereo on both are not as evenly matched with Martin sounding a little more off
than Meyer. Extras on both include a
trailer gallery, while Meyer adds an
Epilogue, text Filmmaker Biography and two photo sections.
- Nicholas Sheffo
