Why food has evolved from everyday sustenance to a worldwide cultural and media obsession may be the work - intentionally or not - of some extraordinary people in the food business. In this anthology of stories about food, recipes and the fascinating people behind them, journalist and restaurateur Stephen Vines explores what makes a person a master of food - a food guru. He takes readers deep into the personal journey, peculiar character and fierce passion of 20 of the world's most influential food gurus (such as Jamie Oliver, Julia Child, Gordon Ramsay, Delia Smith and Ferran Adria) and the social events and history of their generation that contributed to their appreciation and methods of creating food that's enjoyed throughout the world.