In Pursuit of Excellence

After 12 years as chef and owner of Two-Star Michelin award winning Melisse Restaurant in Santa Monica, chef Josiah Citrin opens up his kitchen and shares the recipes that have consistently earned him rave reviews with his first cookbook, “In Pursuit of Excellence”. Trained in France and of French heritage, Citrin's approach to cuisine pairs classic French technique with farm-to-table produce that he personally sources for his inspired cuisine. He has been masterfully coaxing flavors and essences out of the ordinary and formulating them into sublime, original dishes that are the equivalent of sensory art to the eye and palate. “In Pursuit of Excellence” offers 240 pages of his award-winning cuisine and recipes that are explained in methodical detail along with interesting stories behind how these dishes were created and informative asides about ingredients he chooses and the techniques that he employs. “In Pursuit of Excellence” inspires and teaches Citrin's philosophy and methodology in a friendly, hands-on manner to make cooking and eating cuisine of this caliber more approachable than ever. From base recipes to making the perfect puree, challenging the reader to try geoduck and sweetbreads or to prepare paper roasted rabbit; readers are encouraged to try parts or all of a recipe or to swap components of some with others. Former restaurant critic and friend Patricia Aranka Smith frames Citrin's story of moving up the ranks in the culinary world by being voted one of the top ten chefs in America by Food and Wine Magazine (1997) to the launching of the consistently high-rated Melisse Restaurant. With her personalized account of having seen his raw talent in Paris to witnessing his rising star over the course of two-plus decades, “In Pursuit of Excellence” reveals what continues to make Citrin the culinary force that he has become with the food that has earned him respect among critics and peers alike. Accompanied by exquisite, colorful photos that capture and deliver his unique culinary prowess, “In Pursuit of Excellence” captures your attention and keeps it by making it possible to finally be able to prepare the dishes from this long-time favorite Los Angeles restaurant at home. Read more