In The Very Hungry Frenchman, Raymond is going back to five of his favourite regions to re-connect with the wonderful food and people that have inspired him: farmers in Burgundy, chefs in Lyon, winemakers in Alsace, good friends in Provence, and cheese makers in Franche-Comté.
Raymond Blanc's recipes
Episode 1: Franche-Comté
Every great chef has a rich bank of memories that shape their love of food. For Raymond Blanc, it’s in the high green pastures of the county of his birth – a little known region of France called Franche Comté.
Episode 2: Burgundy
Burgundy – or Bourgogne as the French call it – has the most aristocratic of all France’s regional cuisines. It is considered to be the centre of French food.
Episode 3: Lyon
In the Rhone-Alps, gourmets regard Lyon as the high-altar at which they can nourish their gastronomic souls. Lyon is the home of the greatest living chef, Paul Bocuse, mentor and friend to Raymond since his earliest days as a chef.
Episode 4: Alsace
When the Black mountains of Germany are on the horizon and the Rhine, which marks the border with France, appears, Raymond Blanc can only be in one place – Alsace.
Episode 5: Provence
Amongst the wealth of experiences that have inspired Raymond Blanc’s passion for food and cooking, few can rival his first visit to Provence as a 14 year old boy. Raymond has remained fascinated with the region, and for him there is no better way to remind himself of his early love affair with the food, than to drop in at quayside restaurant and savour the flavours of Provence with an appetiser.
