When Maxime Gaillard opened a small bistro at 3 rue Royale, his restaurant was soon discovered by the star socialite of the moment, Irma de Montigny, who launched it as a center of Parisian nightlife. A masterpiece of Art Nouveau architecture and design, Maxim's remains faithful to this period and continues to be a symbol of Parisian luxury life, mixing crowned heads, heirs and millionaires, top artists, and current beauties since it opened its doors. On the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the restaurant's latest proprietorship, by the iconic designer Pierre Cardin, Jean-Pascal Hesse tells us the fascinating story of this legendary place. The book also features a selection of Maxim’s most successful recipes, with accompanying illustrations. Historian Jean-Pascal Hesse is the author of a number of books. A close collaborator with Pierre Cardin, he published a survey of the famous couturier s creations, Pierre Cardin: 60 Years of Innovation, last year. A city council member in Paris, he also directs cultural events for the mayor of the sixteenth arrondissement.