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Emma Dreams of Stars: Inside the Gourmet Guide
BASED ON THE TRUE STORY OF A FORMER MICHELIN GUIDE INSPECTOR
Get a rare glimpse into the inner workings of The Michelin Guide , and the grueling yet rewarding life of an undercover professional foodie!
Originally published in France, this inspiring story brings us behind the scenes as we follow Emma, the first woman to be hired as a Michelin Guide Inspector, on her adventures across France and abroad. This full-color manga will not only make your mouth water, but also encourage you to not give up on your dreams…
Get a rare glimpse into the inner workings of The Michelin Guide , and the grueling yet rewarding life of an undercover professional foodie!
Originally published in France, this inspiring story brings us behind the scenes as we follow Emma, the first woman to be hired as a Michelin Guide Inspector, on her adventures across France and abroad. This full-color manga will not only make your mouth water, but also encourage you to not give up on your dreams…
200 pages, Paperback
First published June 23, 2017
6 people are currently reading
145 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
November 27, 2021
Es un comic bastante entretenido que te pone en piel de la 1a crítica femenina de la guía Michelín.
Te das cuenta de la importancia que tienen las estrellas para un restaurante y la presión a la que se ve sometida la trabajadora. Eso por no mencionar tantísimo trabajo que tiene la crítica más allá de sentarse a comer
Te das cuenta de la importancia que tienen las estrellas para un restaurante y la presión a la que se ve sometida la trabajadora. Eso por no mencionar tantísimo trabajo que tiene la crítica más allá de sentarse a comer
April 9, 2022
April 9, 2022 Update A recent article at Estonian World about the Michelin Guide Expands to Estonia, gives excellent background on the Michelin Guide's star rating system and history.
Working Undercover for the Michelin Guide
Review of the Kodansha Vertical paperback edition (November 2021) translated by Eamon Fogarty from the French language original Le Goût d'Emma : Une femme dans les coulisses du plus grand guide gastronomique du monde (Emma's Taste: A Woman Behind the Scenes of the World's Largest Gastronomic Guide) (2018*)
This was a delightful graphic novel portraying the first year in the life of a Michelin Guide inspector touring restaurants and hotels in France and working up to attending her first Michelin Star rating meeting with other inspectors. Michelin does reviews in major cities around the world, but their home base and major audience is in France. As the Wikipedia article linked above mentions: "In France, when the guide is published each year, it sparks a media frenzy which has been compared to that for annual Academy Awards for films."
There are some qualifiers here in the synopsis: "Based on the true story of a former Michelin Guide inspector.", and if you read the small print on the credits page:
At first that may strike you as false advertising if this is supposed to be a "true story". When you think about it though, it makes sense that specific real-life restaurants and hotels wouldn't be used in the story-telling. And also that the identities of real-life Michelin inspectors would be concealed. That doesn't mean that the story isn't true in spirit and that more likely than not there were real-life parallels to the events portrayed in this graphic novel.
Cover image of the original Japanese edition (2017*). Image sourced from Goodreads.
The Emma of the title is also likely a pseudonym, as Guide inspectors are required to remain anonymous. There is a French children's and YA writer of graphic novels named Emmanuelle Maisonneuve, but nothing in her bibliography indicates that she is also the ex-Michelin Guide inspector (although their books are merged in GR's listings). To create the book, the ex-inspector would have related events from her reviewing days to writer Julia Pavlowitch who has the lead writer credit, with manga artist Kan Takahama providing illustrations.
So I had to unpack a bit and do the research to get some background, but regardless of all that this is a wonderfully done graphic novel which is not specifically set in any exact year, although the "big hair" hair-styles of some of the younger characters suggest the 1980's-1990's. Although set in the world of gastronomy, at its heart it is the story of a young woman realizing her life goals with all the uncertainty of initial first steps into a new job where she begins to doubt herself at times but finally makes her mark by identifying and defending her tastes and passions.
Trivia and Link
* The Kodansha Vertical paperback gives the original French language edition copyright as 2018. But the Japanese language edition (presumably also a translation from the French) was actually published first, in June 23, 2017 as verified via Amazon Japan.
Working Undercover for the Michelin Guide
Review of the Kodansha Vertical paperback edition (November 2021) translated by Eamon Fogarty from the French language original Le Goût d'Emma : Une femme dans les coulisses du plus grand guide gastronomique du monde (Emma's Taste: A Woman Behind the Scenes of the World's Largest Gastronomic Guide) (2018*)
This was a delightful graphic novel portraying the first year in the life of a Michelin Guide inspector touring restaurants and hotels in France and working up to attending her first Michelin Star rating meeting with other inspectors. Michelin does reviews in major cities around the world, but their home base and major audience is in France. As the Wikipedia article linked above mentions: "In France, when the guide is published each year, it sparks a media frenzy which has been compared to that for annual Academy Awards for films."
There are some qualifiers here in the synopsis: "Based on the true story of a former Michelin Guide inspector.", and if you read the small print on the credits page:
This is a work of fiction.
At first that may strike you as false advertising if this is supposed to be a "true story". When you think about it though, it makes sense that specific real-life restaurants and hotels wouldn't be used in the story-telling. And also that the identities of real-life Michelin inspectors would be concealed. That doesn't mean that the story isn't true in spirit and that more likely than not there were real-life parallels to the events portrayed in this graphic novel.
Cover image of the original Japanese edition (2017*). Image sourced from Goodreads.
The Emma of the title is also likely a pseudonym, as Guide inspectors are required to remain anonymous. There is a French children's and YA writer of graphic novels named Emmanuelle Maisonneuve, but nothing in her bibliography indicates that she is also the ex-Michelin Guide inspector (although their books are merged in GR's listings). To create the book, the ex-inspector would have related events from her reviewing days to writer Julia Pavlowitch who has the lead writer credit, with manga artist Kan Takahama providing illustrations.
So I had to unpack a bit and do the research to get some background, but regardless of all that this is a wonderfully done graphic novel which is not specifically set in any exact year, although the "big hair" hair-styles of some of the younger characters suggest the 1980's-1990's. Although set in the world of gastronomy, at its heart it is the story of a young woman realizing her life goals with all the uncertainty of initial first steps into a new job where she begins to doubt herself at times but finally makes her mark by identifying and defending her tastes and passions.
Trivia and Link
* The Kodansha Vertical paperback gives the original French language edition copyright as 2018. But the Japanese language edition (presumably also a translation from the French) was actually published first, in June 23, 2017 as verified via Amazon Japan.
January 9, 2022
I have read very few, if any, graphic novel/manga bio/autobiographies, so this was outside of my usual realm of graphic novel/manga reading.
I really enjoyed it! Though I think it might have been more due to the person this was about. What a life this woman led! So interesting and full, I can only imagine being raised to have such a mature and knowledgable palette. It is so interesting how she was raised made such an impact on her as an adult.
The artwork was beautiful and I admit, I am so used to black and white manga, that the full color of this book took my breath away. It spoiled me, lol!
The story was told in such a way that you can really feel Emma's feelings and you worry along with her when certain spoilery things happen. I was sad when I turned the last page and realized that was the end of the story that we were going to be getting. Her story obviously continued, but our viewing of it had come to a close.
4, it was a privilege to be able to see into her amazing life thank you for sharing it Emma, stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
I really enjoyed it! Though I think it might have been more due to the person this was about. What a life this woman led! So interesting and full, I can only imagine being raised to have such a mature and knowledgable palette. It is so interesting how she was raised made such an impact on her as an adult.
The artwork was beautiful and I admit, I am so used to black and white manga, that the full color of this book took my breath away. It spoiled me, lol!
The story was told in such a way that you can really feel Emma's feelings and you worry along with her when certain spoilery things happen. I was sad when I turned the last page and realized that was the end of the story that we were going to be getting. Her story obviously continued, but our viewing of it had come to a close.
4, it was a privilege to be able to see into her amazing life thank you for sharing it Emma, stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2018
Comment voulez-vous que ce manga ne me parle pas ??!
Emma, passionnée de cuisine, nous entraîne dans ses débuts au sein du célèbre guide gastronomique français. De plus, la jeune femme adore le Japon et elle va s’y rendre le temps d’un chapitre pour me/nous faire saliver encore plus
Et je m’arrête là, car il y a d’autres aspects qui m’ont beaucoup parlé, mais je risque de vous en dévoiler trop et ce serait dommage.
Les illustrations sont très délicates et très féminines, elles contrebalancent avec l’aspect parfois rigide de la gastronomie française et les règles qu’impliquent de figurer dans le guide M.
Cette lecture ressemble au Gourmet Solitaire et si comme moi vous l’aviez adoré, il y a de forte chance pour que vous aimiez cette lecture également. J’ai apprécié de pouvoir suivre Emma et découvrir les dessous de cet univers.
Ce fut une belle lecture et je pense que je la relirais avec plaisir.
Emma, passionnée de cuisine, nous entraîne dans ses débuts au sein du célèbre guide gastronomique français. De plus, la jeune femme adore le Japon et elle va s’y rendre le temps d’un chapitre pour me/nous faire saliver encore plus
Et je m’arrête là, car il y a d’autres aspects qui m’ont beaucoup parlé, mais je risque de vous en dévoiler trop et ce serait dommage.
Les illustrations sont très délicates et très féminines, elles contrebalancent avec l’aspect parfois rigide de la gastronomie française et les règles qu’impliquent de figurer dans le guide M.
Cette lecture ressemble au Gourmet Solitaire et si comme moi vous l’aviez adoré, il y a de forte chance pour que vous aimiez cette lecture également. J’ai apprécié de pouvoir suivre Emma et découvrir les dessous de cet univers.
Ce fut une belle lecture et je pense que je la relirais avec plaisir.
December 31, 2021
[Thanks to Netgalley and Kodansha for providing a copy of this book for review]
Emma is young and full of vinegar(s), with the dream of becoming a Michelin inspector and the first female one, at that. This biographical story follows her journey into the harsh lives of a prestigious food critic and the toll it can take.
This book was a pure delight, with a caveat. But we’ll save the caveat for after the main course, so lets start with the good bits. The art is delightful - Emma’s design is funky, but relatable, and the food she’s eating is lovingly presented, which is something a story like this really needs to nail and they do a good job.
The book presents the life she’s chosen for herself as equal parts harsh and wonderful. Yes, she gets to eat at new places and try new things and you can feel the joy when she finds a new hidden spot that provides amazing food. The climax of the story is based on this passion and works well as such.
But you also see the strain of the work on her, the sheer desperation of the restauranteurs who depend on their ranking to maintain their livelihood, and the toll this all takes on personal lives. The training from her fellow guides alone is a ton of memorization and learning deception and many tricks of the trade.
To say nothing of the fact that Emma is the first woman to do this, so there’s definitely a lot of awful chauvinism to be dealt with, both intentional and unintentional. Emma is definitely the hero of her story, as she should be.
And I especially liked Emma’s formative experiences in Japan - it’s probably no coincidence that the title of this book reflects a rather famous Japanese documentary. She learns a lot during a two week trip that fundamentally alters her perception of food and feels especially important.
Between that change and her work beforehand, we see that Emma is very, very good at what she does and is absolutely passionate about food. It’s incredibly easy to get swept up in her energy and the writing does an amazing job making reading about various foods interesting.
On the downside, I kind of wish we’d had a little more backstory on Emma. Beyond her passion for collecting vinegar, which I think is wonderful, we are left to get what we can from small details. The book does flesh her out quite well, but this still a hint of enigma about her.
More frustratingly, this story doesn’t so much end as it stops. The climax is good for what it is, but we sort of trail off with a very open-ended final scene that leaves so much on the table that it’s a bit disappointing.
I basically wanted much more of this and, since this appears to be the only book for this story, we’re left with a meal that feels incomplete. Much as a good meal can leave you feel sated, so can a good book, and this one is a few little tweaks (or another volume, which I would LOVE) just shy of brilliance.
4 stars - in a way, it is fitting that this story, like many of the restaurants Emma eats at, is incredibly close to perfection and does many, many things right, but has one or two details wrong that keep it just shy of the highest heights. Very recommended, nonetheless.
Emma is young and full of vinegar(s), with the dream of becoming a Michelin inspector and the first female one, at that. This biographical story follows her journey into the harsh lives of a prestigious food critic and the toll it can take.
This book was a pure delight, with a caveat. But we’ll save the caveat for after the main course, so lets start with the good bits. The art is delightful - Emma’s design is funky, but relatable, and the food she’s eating is lovingly presented, which is something a story like this really needs to nail and they do a good job.
The book presents the life she’s chosen for herself as equal parts harsh and wonderful. Yes, she gets to eat at new places and try new things and you can feel the joy when she finds a new hidden spot that provides amazing food. The climax of the story is based on this passion and works well as such.
But you also see the strain of the work on her, the sheer desperation of the restauranteurs who depend on their ranking to maintain their livelihood, and the toll this all takes on personal lives. The training from her fellow guides alone is a ton of memorization and learning deception and many tricks of the trade.
To say nothing of the fact that Emma is the first woman to do this, so there’s definitely a lot of awful chauvinism to be dealt with, both intentional and unintentional. Emma is definitely the hero of her story, as she should be.
And I especially liked Emma’s formative experiences in Japan - it’s probably no coincidence that the title of this book reflects a rather famous Japanese documentary. She learns a lot during a two week trip that fundamentally alters her perception of food and feels especially important.
Between that change and her work beforehand, we see that Emma is very, very good at what she does and is absolutely passionate about food. It’s incredibly easy to get swept up in her energy and the writing does an amazing job making reading about various foods interesting.
On the downside, I kind of wish we’d had a little more backstory on Emma. Beyond her passion for collecting vinegar, which I think is wonderful, we are left to get what we can from small details. The book does flesh her out quite well, but this still a hint of enigma about her.
More frustratingly, this story doesn’t so much end as it stops. The climax is good for what it is, but we sort of trail off with a very open-ended final scene that leaves so much on the table that it’s a bit disappointing.
I basically wanted much more of this and, since this appears to be the only book for this story, we’re left with a meal that feels incomplete. Much as a good meal can leave you feel sated, so can a good book, and this one is a few little tweaks (or another volume, which I would LOVE) just shy of brilliance.
4 stars - in a way, it is fitting that this story, like many of the restaurants Emma eats at, is incredibly close to perfection and does many, many things right, but has one or two details wrong that keep it just shy of the highest heights. Very recommended, nonetheless.
March 8, 2018
Emma a toujours eu un palais exceptionnel, une passion pour la cuisine et un rêve: devenir inspectrice au Guide Michelin. Un jour, alors qu'elle n'y croit plus, elle est invitée à rejoindre l'équipe du célèbre petit livre rouge. Elle sera la seule femme parmi une équipe masculine où ses collègues doutent d'abord qu'elle soit faite pour ce métier.
Les tournées en province sont longues et épuisantes, ce qui ne facilite pas la vie amoureuse ou de famille. On roule beaucoup; on mange souvent riche et pas toujours bien; il faut mémoriser et respecter une procédure draconienne... Sans parler de la difficulté de faire un retour négatif à des restaurateurs qui se sont parfois lourdement endettés pour leur établissement.
Mais grâce à son talent et à son implication absolue, Emma impose très vite le respect. Puis, lors de vacances au Japon, elle découvre une cuisine minimaliste qui change radicalement son approche de la restauration et la fait douter d'être encore à sa place au Michelin...
Basé sur l'histoire vécue par Emmanuelle Maisonneuve, qui en signe le scénario avec Julia Pavlowitch, "Le goût d'Emma" propose à la fois une trajectoire de femme passionnante et un coup d'oeil inédit dans les coulisses du plus célèbre guide gastronomique au monde. L'ensemble est servi par les très jolis dessins de Kan Takahama (même si je regrette que beaucoup des décors soient visiblement des photos à peine transformées).
Mon blog lecture: https://l4nn3x3.blogspot.be/
Les tournées en province sont longues et épuisantes, ce qui ne facilite pas la vie amoureuse ou de famille. On roule beaucoup; on mange souvent riche et pas toujours bien; il faut mémoriser et respecter une procédure draconienne... Sans parler de la difficulté de faire un retour négatif à des restaurateurs qui se sont parfois lourdement endettés pour leur établissement.
Mais grâce à son talent et à son implication absolue, Emma impose très vite le respect. Puis, lors de vacances au Japon, elle découvre une cuisine minimaliste qui change radicalement son approche de la restauration et la fait douter d'être encore à sa place au Michelin...
Basé sur l'histoire vécue par Emmanuelle Maisonneuve, qui en signe le scénario avec Julia Pavlowitch, "Le goût d'Emma" propose à la fois une trajectoire de femme passionnante et un coup d'oeil inédit dans les coulisses du plus célèbre guide gastronomique au monde. L'ensemble est servi par les très jolis dessins de Kan Takahama (même si je regrette que beaucoup des décors soient visiblement des photos à peine transformées).
Mon blog lecture: https://l4nn3x3.blogspot.be/
September 10, 2021
I am happy I picked this at random from the shelves. It was such a pleasant read. The art suited the biographical graphic novel well. You feel as if you are able to live vicariously through her in her travels of food tasting and exploration of location. Definitely recommend to the lovers of good restaurants.
April 10, 2022
Charmingly illustrated memoir of a Michelin inspector's first year. I enjoyed this mightily- both her insights into food and her insights into herself felt fresh and interesting. Picked it up on a whim, and am very glad to have done so.
December 5, 2021
En 200 pages couleur, les planches magnifiquement dessinées de Kan Takahama nous donnent le goût de déguster, nous font admirer les paysages de la France ou de l'intérieur des restaurants, des émotions des personnages, parfois évidentes, mais bien souvent contenues. Le récit, souvent livré par les pensées des personnages, permet rapidement de saisir la vocation d'Emma, pour qui le plaisir de découvrir, goûter, apprécier une bonne cuisine n'est pas une simple occupation professionnelle. C'est une véritable passion, ce qui provoque à l'occasion la surprise dans son entourage (elle est la seule femme inspectrice pour Michelin), ou chez son amoureux (qu'on ne voit jamais, mais dont on lit les textos remplis de reproches).
La partie sur la perte de la carte d'identité m'a semblé un peu précipitée, la solution est finalement très simple, et l'inquiétude paraît alors disproportionnée. C'est peut-être le seul défaut de cette BD: j'aurais suivi plus longtemps les aventures d'Emma, les interrogations et les difficultés sont souvent vite terminées, étant donné la brièveté de l'ouvrage.
Mais j'ai grandement apprécié les pages de cette oeuvre magnifique. Et j'adorerais en apprendre plus sur la vie d'Emmanuelle Maisonneuve, car j'ai été convaincue par sa passion pour la cuisine (et par son amour de la gastronomie japonaise aussi! ;)
La partie sur la perte de la carte d'identité m'a semblé un peu précipitée, la solution est finalement très simple, et l'inquiétude paraît alors disproportionnée. C'est peut-être le seul défaut de cette BD: j'aurais suivi plus longtemps les aventures d'Emma, les interrogations et les difficultés sont souvent vite terminées, étant donné la brièveté de l'ouvrage.
Mais j'ai grandement apprécié les pages de cette oeuvre magnifique. Et j'adorerais en apprendre plus sur la vie d'Emmanuelle Maisonneuve, car j'ai été convaincue par sa passion pour la cuisine (et par son amour de la gastronomie japonaise aussi! ;)
December 14, 2021
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a beautiful book!
Told through a graphic novel format we follow Emma as she joins the Michelin Guide team as an inspector. She learns the ins and outs of rating restaurants and gets to experience a variety of food and hotels.
It's a beautiful journey about finding what's important and enjoying things, as well as an interesting peak behind the curtain.
This is a beautiful book!
Told through a graphic novel format we follow Emma as she joins the Michelin Guide team as an inspector. She learns the ins and outs of rating restaurants and gets to experience a variety of food and hotels.
It's a beautiful journey about finding what's important and enjoying things, as well as an interesting peak behind the curtain.
December 29, 2021
Rating: 3.25 🌟
First and foremost, I'd like to express my gratitude to Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this graphic novel.
This e-arc was enjoyable to read. The way the problems were depicted was just remarkable. Gender discrimination and women's empowerment in the workplace. Furthermore, the way the profession was depicted. I'm not going to lie, this was my very first time acknowledging the profession, and I'm fascinated by how it works.
December 16, 2021
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital sample of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
A great look into the life of Emma, who becomes the first female Michelin Guide Inspector. I very much enjoyed all the descriptions of food and how rating restaurants and hotels work! Makes me hungry reading about all that delicious sounding food!
A great look into the life of Emma, who becomes the first female Michelin Guide Inspector. I very much enjoyed all the descriptions of food and how rating restaurants and hotels work! Makes me hungry reading about all that delicious sounding food!
February 15, 2024
Tenemos aquí la historia de una mujer con el sueño de ser inspectora de la Guia Michelin. La historia en si es interesante ya que puedes leer un poco acerca del funcionamiento de la Guia Michelin, pero quiere abarcar tanto que se queda en la superficie de las cosas sin profundizar en ninguno de los sucesos que se narran.
December 15, 2021
I received a copy of this graphic novel through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A graphic novel full of food and reaching for the stars!🙂
It was a semi-autobiographic story about a female Michelin Guide inspector and her hardships during her work. One would think that reviewing fancy restaurants and hotels is easy and fun but this graphic novel showed well that it is not always the case and that it is actually quite a lonely and bothersome way of living. 🤔
It was quite interesting and it had very beautiful art. The food pictures were especially appetising…😂
A graphic novel full of food and reaching for the stars!🙂
It was a semi-autobiographic story about a female Michelin Guide inspector and her hardships during her work. One would think that reviewing fancy restaurants and hotels is easy and fun but this graphic novel showed well that it is not always the case and that it is actually quite a lonely and bothersome way of living. 🤔
It was quite interesting and it had very beautiful art. The food pictures were especially appetising…😂
January 30, 2022
Extremely charming and fun to read and look at; the art is manga style but watercolor inspired. The story an interesting introduction to what it means to be a Michelin Inspector. Loved it.
April 17, 2023
Un joli roman graphique sur le quotidien de la seule femme critique du célèbre guide Michel. Entre gastronomie et chemin de vie, c'était passionnant !
May 20, 2025
plutôt sympas de voir les backstage des guides culinaire, celui de michelin en l’occurrence
ça m’a mis l’eau à la bouche tout ça
ça m’a mis l’eau à la bouche tout ça
December 29, 2021
Lo que acontece al interior de la guía Michelin, cómo se preparan los inspectores y la trascendencia que encuentran en su trabajo (una misión casi patriótica) es lo más interesante de la novela. Luego, el recorrido de Emma. El recorrido literal, el gastronómico. Su recorrido de vida, en cambio, se muestra demasiado centrado en sí misma, hasta el punto que es incómodo (no necesita mostrar los halagos: las acciones deberían ser, y en este caso son, suficientes). A nivel de guión, todo se describe y explica, incluso cuando se sobreentiende lo que sucede ya sea por la bellísima ilustración de Takahama o por la situación misma, y eso vacía de significado las escenas, los diálogos y las ilustraciones.
December 7, 2019
J'aime bien le style Franco-japonaise et je suis contente d'avoir appris plus sur le fameux guide Michelin. Heureusement j'ai bien mangé avant de commencer ma lecture ! Je suis curieuse de lire d'autres œuvres de Julia Pavlowitch, savoir qu'est qu'elle fait maintenant Mmme Maisonneuve et de trouver d'autres bd illustré par Mme Takahama. Une vraie découverte
March 24, 2020
Biographie dessinée sur la vie d'Emmanuelle Maisonneuve : tour à tout journaliste, écrivaine et inspectrice au Guide Michelin.
Une histoire pour l'amour de la cuisine et par amour de la cuisine.
Une histoire pour l'amour de la cuisine et par amour de la cuisine.
July 30, 2022
3.5 rounded up.
A glimpse into the behind-the-scenes of being an undercover food and hotel inspector for the storied Michelin Guide. It tells us it's based on a true story, though it's definitely fictionalized to provide the actual story/narrative.
Here, we have Emma who gets a job interview with a chance to be a famous Michelin inspector, which involves eating undercover, having to keep all notes in their memory, and basically making crucial decisions about whether a places deserves to retain (or gain) the famous Michelin Star that denotes quality.
It was interesting, and the art is great--it's full-color with warm colors that give the impression of physical media (it could be computer-colored, I don't know, but it doesn't have the flat, crisp overly-smooth colors and edges that often show up in digital art). The story itself isn't surprising, but neither is it overly dramatic, since the point of the story is really about what goes into being an inspector.
There was a minor subplot about having a boyfriend she needs to break up with that really could have--and should have--been left out entirely. The entire point was, I think, to make it look like Thomas (who calls and texts complaining that he never gets to see Emma) is dragging her down and Emma is growing beyond him, but mostly I wondered why she was in a relationship at all, since she clearly doesn't care about him (not even enough to communicate with him about how much travel she's doing).
For anyone who has read or watched food anime/manga/media, the tone of the book won't be a surprise. A lot of paying attention to texture, presentation, etc. It makes me think how miserable being a professional food critic could end up being, like being a professional anything critic. Much as I often can't trust professional movie reviews because they get so nitpicky, or jaded (if a movie is supposed to be a summer action romp, I do not care that it doesn't get deep or super unique because that's not the point!), I think--and this book doesn't nothing to persuade me otherwise--that critiquing food and its presentation for a living would make the "good" places much less enjoyable.
A glimpse into the behind-the-scenes of being an undercover food and hotel inspector for the storied Michelin Guide. It tells us it's based on a true story, though it's definitely fictionalized to provide the actual story/narrative.
Here, we have Emma who gets a job interview with a chance to be a famous Michelin inspector, which involves eating undercover, having to keep all notes in their memory, and basically making crucial decisions about whether a places deserves to retain (or gain) the famous Michelin Star that denotes quality.
It was interesting, and the art is great--it's full-color with warm colors that give the impression of physical media (it could be computer-colored, I don't know, but it doesn't have the flat, crisp overly-smooth colors and edges that often show up in digital art). The story itself isn't surprising, but neither is it overly dramatic, since the point of the story is really about what goes into being an inspector.
There was a minor subplot about having a boyfriend she needs to break up with that really could have--and should have--been left out entirely. The entire point was, I think, to make it look like Thomas (who calls and texts complaining that he never gets to see Emma) is dragging her down and Emma is growing beyond him, but mostly I wondered why she was in a relationship at all, since she clearly doesn't care about him (not even enough to communicate with him about how much travel she's doing).
For anyone who has read or watched food anime/manga/media, the tone of the book won't be a surprise. A lot of paying attention to texture, presentation, etc. It makes me think how miserable being a professional food critic could end up being, like being a professional anything critic. Much as I often can't trust professional movie reviews because they get so nitpicky, or jaded (if a movie is supposed to be a summer action romp, I do not care that it doesn't get deep or super unique because that's not the point!), I think--and this book doesn't nothing to persuade me otherwise--that critiquing food and its presentation for a living would make the "good" places much less enjoyable.
June 23, 2024
This autobiographical work tells the story of Emma becoming the first woman to be hired as a Michelin Guide Inspector. There's a bit about her initial training (reading, shadowing three experienced inspectors), her doubts, the tug-of-war between her personal life and her dream of doing this work, and her adventures across France and Japan (where she went on vacation).
A true foodie probably would have appreciated this more...or they might have found the bits about Thomas (her boyfriend, I think) even more annoying than I did. It got to the point where I was hoping she'd just dump him, since it was clear that he viewed her Michelin Guide Inspector work as a hobby she'd get over at some point and she had better chemistry with Marc, one of her new coworkers. Thomas kept coming up throughout the volume, but solely as missed calls and texts.
You could feel the sincere appreciation for food in the work. The illustrations were lovely and full-color - I could practically feel the weight of all the rich and heavy French foods myself. At one point, Emma went on vacation to Japan and ended up briefly losing her taste for richer French food in favor of lighter Japanese foods. I could understand why.
According to the volume, inspectors only got about half an hour of time at each location, which seemed way too short. Hopefully that didn't include food preparation time? I had other questions that weren't really answered either, like what it took for Emma to apply in the first place - she'd already applied and was waiting for a response at the beginning of the volume. How were applicants' abilities assessed?
If you're really interested in what Michelin Guide Inspectors go through, I don't know if this is the best resource, since a lot of the focus was more on Emma herself, but I still found this to be an interesting read overall.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
A true foodie probably would have appreciated this more...or they might have found the bits about Thomas (her boyfriend, I think) even more annoying than I did. It got to the point where I was hoping she'd just dump him, since it was clear that he viewed her Michelin Guide Inspector work as a hobby she'd get over at some point and she had better chemistry with Marc, one of her new coworkers. Thomas kept coming up throughout the volume, but solely as missed calls and texts.
You could feel the sincere appreciation for food in the work. The illustrations were lovely and full-color - I could practically feel the weight of all the rich and heavy French foods myself. At one point, Emma went on vacation to Japan and ended up briefly losing her taste for richer French food in favor of lighter Japanese foods. I could understand why.
According to the volume, inspectors only got about half an hour of time at each location, which seemed way too short. Hopefully that didn't include food preparation time? I had other questions that weren't really answered either, like what it took for Emma to apply in the first place - she'd already applied and was waiting for a response at the beginning of the volume. How were applicants' abilities assessed?
If you're really interested in what Michelin Guide Inspectors go through, I don't know if this is the best resource, since a lot of the focus was more on Emma herself, but I still found this to be an interesting read overall.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
February 22, 2022
It isn't every day that you get to see a graphic novel based on a true story, so when Emma Dreams of Stars popped up on my radar, I knew I had to give it a try. Created by Julia Pavlowitch, Kan Takahama, and Emmanuelle Maisonneuve, Emma Dreams of Stars tells the story of a former Michelin Guide Inspector.
Young Emma always had one dream in life: to find her way into the world of Michelin Guides by becoming a food inspector. It's a dream she worked hard at, and now it seems to finally be about to come true. This is the true story of how she got here.
Remember, Emma is a real person, and this story really did happen. The depictions of the harsh life of a food critic are very much real, though most likely never thought to consider the details of those lives. I know I didn't.
If you've ever been curious about what it is like to be a food critic (in France, no less!), then you really ought to read Emma Dreams of Stars. The fact that the story is told in a graphic novel format allows for visual elements and is an overall shorter read.
I enjoyed the format of Emma's story. It added a lot to the visual side of things. Admittedly, I think more time could have been spent letting readers know Emma first. Perhaps this wouldn't have been an issue if I went into it knowing more about her work? I can't say.
Emma Dreams of Stars had a lot going for it, including the accurate portrayal of a person's real life. This included many personal moments and industry-specific issues such as gender discrimination and the exhaustion/loneliness that can come from constant travel and isolation.
Thanks to Vertical Comics for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Comics
Young Emma always had one dream in life: to find her way into the world of Michelin Guides by becoming a food inspector. It's a dream she worked hard at, and now it seems to finally be about to come true. This is the true story of how she got here.
Remember, Emma is a real person, and this story really did happen. The depictions of the harsh life of a food critic are very much real, though most likely never thought to consider the details of those lives. I know I didn't.
If you've ever been curious about what it is like to be a food critic (in France, no less!), then you really ought to read Emma Dreams of Stars. The fact that the story is told in a graphic novel format allows for visual elements and is an overall shorter read.
I enjoyed the format of Emma's story. It added a lot to the visual side of things. Admittedly, I think more time could have been spent letting readers know Emma first. Perhaps this wouldn't have been an issue if I went into it knowing more about her work? I can't say.
Emma Dreams of Stars had a lot going for it, including the accurate portrayal of a person's real life. This included many personal moments and industry-specific issues such as gender discrimination and the exhaustion/loneliness that can come from constant travel and isolation.
Thanks to Vertical Comics for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Comics
January 23, 2022
4.5 STARS
*A review copy was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Warning: Do not start this book in the middle of the night, when you’re hungry and there’s nothing to eat.
Emma Dreams of Stars follows Emma, young, and the only woman in a male-dominated industry. This poses as a minor yet constant theme in this story, with the main being food and the insider details on what it means to be a Michelin Guide Inspector.
In between travelling, stuffing herself with dishes and inspecting each restaurant from its’ cuisine to the full dining experience, Emma’s personal life is bumpy. Though, it only plays a small part. As this book stops abruptly, I’m guessing that this is only Volume One, or so I hope. I am very invested in the storyline, especially when it comes to Chef Antoine, but this book alone leaves a few questions unanswered.
I enjoyed the food illustrations and the landscapes, especially being stuck in lockdown. It’s lovely to enjoy such scenery and food, the two things that I search for and value whenever we travel. The art is heavily focused on bringing the food to life, while the background reminds me of a painting. Personally, I think the art made the storyline shine.
I am very glad to have been given a review copy of this book. It combines a few of my favourite things – food and sharing opinions (hence this blog). I was also happy to read about Emma’s experience with cuisine in Japan, especially when she visited Nishiki market as it brought back many fond memories from years ago. It’s always very exciting when a book makes references to things that I know, and maybe, just maybe, I might be able to eat in a Michelin-star restaurant someday.
*A review copy was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Warning: Do not start this book in the middle of the night, when you’re hungry and there’s nothing to eat.
Emma Dreams of Stars follows Emma, young, and the only woman in a male-dominated industry. This poses as a minor yet constant theme in this story, with the main being food and the insider details on what it means to be a Michelin Guide Inspector.
In between travelling, stuffing herself with dishes and inspecting each restaurant from its’ cuisine to the full dining experience, Emma’s personal life is bumpy. Though, it only plays a small part. As this book stops abruptly, I’m guessing that this is only Volume One, or so I hope. I am very invested in the storyline, especially when it comes to Chef Antoine, but this book alone leaves a few questions unanswered.
I enjoyed the food illustrations and the landscapes, especially being stuck in lockdown. It’s lovely to enjoy such scenery and food, the two things that I search for and value whenever we travel. The art is heavily focused on bringing the food to life, while the background reminds me of a painting. Personally, I think the art made the storyline shine.
I am very glad to have been given a review copy of this book. It combines a few of my favourite things – food and sharing opinions (hence this blog). I was also happy to read about Emma’s experience with cuisine in Japan, especially when she visited Nishiki market as it brought back many fond memories from years ago. It’s always very exciting when a book makes references to things that I know, and maybe, just maybe, I might be able to eat in a Michelin-star restaurant someday.
December 13, 2021
Thank you to Kodansha and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Emma Dreams of Stars: Inside the Gourmet Guide by Kan Takahama; Emmanuelle Maisonneuve; Julia Pavlowitch is a full-color manga originally published in France. It is the true story of the only woman on the Michelin Guide's all-male team of inspectors. According to the description, the story revolves around Emma, "the first woman to be hired as a Michelin Guide Inspector, on her adventures across France and abroad." Will Emma be able to stand up for herself against the sexist comments of co-workers? Will the job be everything that she expects? And what foodie adventures will she embark on?
Overall, Emma Dreams of Stars: Inside the Gourmet Guide is a mouth-watering, full-color manga that will appeal to fans of Food Wars. One highlight of this book is the fascinating behind-the-scenes information that Emma gives us in regards to the prestigious Michelin Guide. I enjoyed the scenes where Emma speaks up against sexism, and I'm happy that that story is finally being told. Another highlight of this book were the scenes in Japan. The book starts off in France, but Emma journeys abroad for the job. I loved seeing the cross-cultural connections, especially since this is technically a manga about a French person. If you're intrigued by the description, or if you're a fan of manga about food, I highly recommend that you check out this book, which is available now!
Emma Dreams of Stars: Inside the Gourmet Guide by Kan Takahama; Emmanuelle Maisonneuve; Julia Pavlowitch is a full-color manga originally published in France. It is the true story of the only woman on the Michelin Guide's all-male team of inspectors. According to the description, the story revolves around Emma, "the first woman to be hired as a Michelin Guide Inspector, on her adventures across France and abroad." Will Emma be able to stand up for herself against the sexist comments of co-workers? Will the job be everything that she expects? And what foodie adventures will she embark on?
Overall, Emma Dreams of Stars: Inside the Gourmet Guide is a mouth-watering, full-color manga that will appeal to fans of Food Wars. One highlight of this book is the fascinating behind-the-scenes information that Emma gives us in regards to the prestigious Michelin Guide. I enjoyed the scenes where Emma speaks up against sexism, and I'm happy that that story is finally being told. Another highlight of this book were the scenes in Japan. The book starts off in France, but Emma journeys abroad for the job. I loved seeing the cross-cultural connections, especially since this is technically a manga about a French person. If you're intrigued by the description, or if you're a fan of manga about food, I highly recommend that you check out this book, which is available now!
December 31, 2021
Emmanuelle has a passion for food and ends up becoming one of the undercover reviewers for the Michelin Guide, the gold standard for restaurants and hotels. As the lone female in a male dominated field, Emma forges her own path down the roads of France for four years. Eating and reviewing nine meals a week, with a different hotel each night, is more grueling than Emma dreamed, but she soon learns the way of the guide. As the shine comes off the stars, Emma learns that the job is decidedly less glamorous than she had hoped.
Emma Dreams of Stars is one of those hidden gems that readers may not expect. Written in graphic novel format, it is suprisingly well told and quite interesting. As this is a format that I rarely read, and considering the fact that I normally do not enjoy the way stories are told graphically, I really like how well paced and captivating Emma Dreams of Stars turns out to be. Not only does it tell a good story, it has a good message for readers. Hard work, perseverance, and reaching for your dreams are the main focus and will serve the target audience well. Based on the true story of Emmanuelle Maisonneuve, readers can see Michelin Guide world through this woman's capable eyes.
Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy of Emma Dreams of Stars by NetGalley and the publisher. The decision to read and review this graphic novel was entirely my own.
Emma Dreams of Stars is one of those hidden gems that readers may not expect. Written in graphic novel format, it is suprisingly well told and quite interesting. As this is a format that I rarely read, and considering the fact that I normally do not enjoy the way stories are told graphically, I really like how well paced and captivating Emma Dreams of Stars turns out to be. Not only does it tell a good story, it has a good message for readers. Hard work, perseverance, and reaching for your dreams are the main focus and will serve the target audience well. Based on the true story of Emmanuelle Maisonneuve, readers can see Michelin Guide world through this woman's capable eyes.
Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy of Emma Dreams of Stars by NetGalley and the publisher. The decision to read and review this graphic novel was entirely my own.
January 12, 2020
Emma a un rêve : devenir inspecteur du Guide Michelin, un métier qu’elle souhaite exercer depuis très longtemps. Seule femme dans un métier résolument masculin, elle va devoir faire ses preuves et montrer qu’elle a sa place.
Sa première année en tant qu’inspecteur va être difficile, toujours sur les routes, dans les hôtels, les désillusions de ne pas se rendre dans des restaurants gastronomiques, les protocoles et autres abréviations à apprendre par cœur…
Beaucoup de patience, d’efficacité pour dénicher la perle rare qui mérite d’être dans le fameux et non moins célèbre Guide Michelin.
Entre apprentissage, réalité du terrain et vie privée, Emma va devoir revoir ses priorités si elle veut réussir son rêve.
Un voyage à la découverte des saveurs de nos régions !
La passion d’Emma est transmise à travers son histoire, on n’a qu’une envie découvrir de nouvelles saveurs, de nouveaux plats, de nouveau lieux où découvrir des plats gourmands, frais et de saison… Les épices, les couleurs, les saveurs font saliver nos pupilles.
Accessible à tous de par la simplicité des dessins et la clarté du langage propre à cet univers si particulier qui jusqu’à il n’y a pas si longtemps était réservé aux hommes, « Un goût d’Emma est le récit autobiographique d’une jeune femme passionnée par la cuisine, les saveurs et son authenticité.
Sa première année en tant qu’inspecteur va être difficile, toujours sur les routes, dans les hôtels, les désillusions de ne pas se rendre dans des restaurants gastronomiques, les protocoles et autres abréviations à apprendre par cœur…
Beaucoup de patience, d’efficacité pour dénicher la perle rare qui mérite d’être dans le fameux et non moins célèbre Guide Michelin.
Entre apprentissage, réalité du terrain et vie privée, Emma va devoir revoir ses priorités si elle veut réussir son rêve.
Un voyage à la découverte des saveurs de nos régions !
La passion d’Emma est transmise à travers son histoire, on n’a qu’une envie découvrir de nouvelles saveurs, de nouveaux plats, de nouveau lieux où découvrir des plats gourmands, frais et de saison… Les épices, les couleurs, les saveurs font saliver nos pupilles.
Accessible à tous de par la simplicité des dessins et la clarté du langage propre à cet univers si particulier qui jusqu’à il n’y a pas si longtemps était réservé aux hommes, « Un goût d’Emma est le récit autobiographique d’une jeune femme passionnée par la cuisine, les saveurs et son authenticité.
October 5, 2022
I love great food, great graphic novels (comics, BD, manga), great stories, which is why I picked it up. I sadly thought it to be a profoundly boring read though. It may even be the first time i rate anything I read one star. Others might rate it higher because it's nice to see drawings of fine food, and that it's great to see a woman fulfill her dream of being a Michelin Guide inspector - and it is awesome to be sure. Still, I can't shake the feeling that this could have been a fantastic story and read, but it's thoroughly boring and uninteresting instead. If I was provocative I might even say that it matches the impression (or prejudice, perhaps) I have of the famed guide she works for.
Light spoilers follow to illustrate my points.
Quick illustration: the square where for like the 4th time we see our heroine and narrator check she cleared her car of any sign she works for the famous guide and stored her notes in her glove box. Or how a character remains so far in the background as to barely exist, so much that I wonder why they're included at all. Surely there are or were more interesting things to say about this narrator's story.
The one saving grace is the meal she has towards the end of the story, the kind I really love, and funny enough in a region I happen to know pretty well too.
Light spoilers follow to illustrate my points.
Quick illustration: the square where for like the 4th time we see our heroine and narrator check she cleared her car of any sign she works for the famous guide and stored her notes in her glove box. Or how a character remains so far in the background as to barely exist, so much that I wonder why they're included at all. Surely there are or were more interesting things to say about this narrator's story.
The one saving grace is the meal she has towards the end of the story, the kind I really love, and funny enough in a region I happen to know pretty well too.
December 27, 2021
Thank you so much to Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC; it is greatly appreciated.
I am an American who lives in France with my French husband, so I was super intrigued by the setting, and that this is originally a French publication. It was fantastic to see tiny places such as Montauban mentioned. This really felt like a nice introduction to France for English speakers.
The art in this felt perfect for the story; the food looked so delicious, and I wanted to be friends with all the characters. The talk of French cuisine being so sauce heavy was spot on ! I'm not sure if this is just a one-shot, but I would love to see another volume, as this is just a nice, feel good, story.
The one thing I found a little strange was Emma's relationship with Thomas. We only "see" this character through texts, but he is apparently her boyfriend. He gets upset with her for lack of communication, and I honestly side with him, as she left to Japan for a week without telling him or contacting him once the entire trip. I mean...isn't that ghosting ? She never seemed into him through the entire story, so I'm not sure why she kept stringing him along. Luckily, this is a very tiny part of the book.
I am an American who lives in France with my French husband, so I was super intrigued by the setting, and that this is originally a French publication. It was fantastic to see tiny places such as Montauban mentioned. This really felt like a nice introduction to France for English speakers.
The art in this felt perfect for the story; the food looked so delicious, and I wanted to be friends with all the characters. The talk of French cuisine being so sauce heavy was spot on ! I'm not sure if this is just a one-shot, but I would love to see another volume, as this is just a nice, feel good, story.
The one thing I found a little strange was Emma's relationship with Thomas. We only "see" this character through texts, but he is apparently her boyfriend. He gets upset with her for lack of communication, and I honestly side with him, as she left to Japan for a week without telling him or contacting him once the entire trip. I mean...isn't that ghosting ? She never seemed into him through the entire story, so I'm not sure why she kept stringing him along. Luckily, this is a very tiny part of the book.
May 2, 2022
Poor Thomas. He's barely in here other than as an obstacle to Emma's dreams, but her actions towards him are toxic. In general, people deserve a heads' up that you are disengaging instead of stringing them along while you are figuring out what you want to do with your life -- because they also get to decide if they want to be in a relationship. You don't get to keep them in a holding pattern while you figure shit out or line up your next relationship with Mark.
It's funny but this minor storyline compared to the rest of the book completely kept me from seeing Emma as a heroine. And I get it, especially when people are in their 20s, but Thomas had no agency or character other than as something holding her back. People grow apart, but every time he is mentioned she is ignoring or avoiding him or he is portrayed as a problem. This being a memoir just makes it a little bit uglier to watch.
Kids, if you're not that into someone or you don't see them in your future, have an honest conversation about it even if you aren't "sure" you want to end the relationship. If you have/had feelings for someone then treat them with enough respect to give them some agency in their future instead of being your "backup plan".
Anyways, Emma seemed like an ugly person through her actions.
It's funny but this minor storyline compared to the rest of the book completely kept me from seeing Emma as a heroine. And I get it, especially when people are in their 20s, but Thomas had no agency or character other than as something holding her back. People grow apart, but every time he is mentioned she is ignoring or avoiding him or he is portrayed as a problem. This being a memoir just makes it a little bit uglier to watch.
Kids, if you're not that into someone or you don't see them in your future, have an honest conversation about it even if you aren't "sure" you want to end the relationship. If you have/had feelings for someone then treat them with enough respect to give them some agency in their future instead of being your "backup plan".
Anyways, Emma seemed like an ugly person through her actions.
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