Odette Kahn facts for kids
Odette Kahn (born in 1923, died in 1982) was a very important expert in the world of wine. She was the editor of famous French magazines like La Revue du vin de France (which means "The Review of French Wine") and Cuisine et Vins de France (meaning "Food and Wines of France"). She was also a judge at a famous wine competition in 1976 called the Paris Wine Tasting. Odette Kahn was very upset with the results of this competition. She even tried to get her vote back and later refused to talk to the organizer, Steven Spurrier. She thought something was wrong and wrote bad things about the competition. This event was even shown in a movie called Bottle Shock.
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Who Was Odette Kahn?
Odette Kahn was a true expert in French food and wines. She was known all over the world for her knowledge and passion.
After finishing her studies at a top French business school, she started working for two important magazines: "Cuisine et Vins de France" and "Revue du Vin de France." She became the assistant director and then the main editor. In 1968, she became the director of the company that published these magazines.
Her Work and Books
Odette Kahn was part of many important groups related to wine and food around the world, including the International Academy of Wine. She also wrote her own cookbook in 1977 called "La Petite et la Grande Cuisine" ("The Small and the Grand Cuisine"). She helped write other books too, like "Cuisine sans Souci" (1974) and "La Vraie Cuisine de l’Alsace" (1976).
She helped organize the national "Meilleur sommelier de France" competition, which finds the best wine waiter in France. She also worked as the general secretary for an association of women cooks and restaurant owners. Odette Kahn even started her own group called "Amitiés Gastronomiques Internationales" (International Gastronomic Friendships).
Media and Awards
Odette Kahn appeared on many radio and television shows, sharing her knowledge about food and wine. She was also a judge in many famous cooking and food contests. She received several important awards for her work, including medals from the French government and the City of Paris.
The Paris Wine Tasting of 1976
One of the most famous events in Odette Kahn's life was the Paris Wine Tasting of 1976. This was a blind tasting where French wine experts tasted French wines against Californian wines.
Odette Kahn's Reaction
When the results were announced, Odette Kahn was extremely surprised and angry. The Californian wines had won in some categories, which was a big shock because French wines were considered the best in the world at that time. She was so upset that she tried to get her ballot (her vote) back. She strongly disagreed with the results and felt that something was wrong with the competition. She even refused to speak to the organizer, Steven Spurrier, after the event. Her strong reaction showed how much she believed in French wine and how unexpected the outcome was. This event became very famous and changed how people viewed wines from other countries.
