Paris CookBook Fair 2013

Paris Cookbook Fair this year brings cookbooks to a most prestigious location, Le Carrousel du Louvre. It is an honour for cookbook publishing to be in the heart of Paris, at the center of culture, romance and history of France. It is very important to build as much respect as possible for authors and publishers of cookbooks and wine books.

These books are usually the result of a team, often with the writer, the photographer, the food-stylist, the art director, the designer, and the publisher. Some culinary books take years of work before they are published. In fact, you can feel in the best cookbooks the heart of the author(s), just as you do in fiction books. Personnalities andcharacter shine through cookbooks as well.

We have tried to build a book fair where human values are respected, where the main motivation is not selling more carpet or furniture, or drive up ticket sales to visitors. We really care about the sector. We have been rewarded with strong support, and fast growth: we had planned to increase publishers floor space by 30%, in fact we had to double it. However, the best reward is that we now have made many friends among the guests, building what they call “the Gourmand Family”.

I am deeply grateful to all the authors and publishers. It also has been much fun. As my son says, it is not worth doing it if we do not all enjoy it. It is wonderful that with Paris Cookbook Fair, business and pleasure combine naturally as the ingredients of this food and wine books feast.