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…

Emmanuelle Maisonneuve was born in Toulouse in 1976. Curious by nature, she developed an early passion for gastronomy and travel. She moved to the United States and Canada for her university studies and discovered the world of fine dining while working with Michel Bras, Alain Ducasse, and Alain Passard. These experiences forged her palate and led her to life-changing encounters with many other greats of French cuisine. Her dream of touching the fabled Michelin stars was realized when she became an inspector for The Michelin Guide.


Julia Pavlowitch is fascinated by lives that don’t stick to the script and she has co-written several portraits of women. Emma Dreams of Stars combines her two passions—unusual life trajectories and cooking. Time spent working as a food journalist, during which she crafted several profiles of chefs and rubbed shoulders with cooks at well-known restaurants in France and abroad, was deeply informative to the writing of this book, as was her deep connection to flavor and the joys of good eating.
Kan Takahama was born in Kumamoto, Japan in 1977. She trained in contemporary art and debuted as a manga artist in 2001. With a strong reputation in Europe, her works have been translated into French, English, and several other languages. She has also collaborated with various artists, among them Frédéric Boilet. In Japan, her recent series Nyx’s Lantern was awarded the Excellence Award at the 21st Japan Media Arts Festival in 2018 and the Manga Grand Prix at the 24th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2020.