Chefs Live!: How-To Gourmet Cooking, Vol. 1

Part of a cooking series called "Victoria Chefs Live!" taped at Camosun Community College in Victoria, British Columbia, How-To Gourmet Cooking, Vol. 1 features Chef Gilbert Noussitou leading viewers through the preparation of a "Westcoast" (sic) menu: peppered oysters with anise and leek; seared duck breast, roast root vegetables and flageolet beans; with baked pear and yogurt cream, caramelized honey and mint for dessert. Wine suggestions are included, as are a set of recipe cards likely to disappear after a few circulations. The camerawork is frequently shaky, with occasional focusing problems and awkward zooms, and the sloppy production values extend to the title graphics for the dessert, which is listed as being "pear an yogurt." Rather than being a solid "how-to" demonstration of specific gourmet techniques, this is really just another cooking show led by a chef with a Clouseau-esqe moustache and a genuine French accent. Very optional. Aud: P. (R. Reagan)