A History of the World's 'Most Extravagant Hotel'

Luke Barr discusses Ritz & Escoffier: The Hotelier, The Chef, and the Rise of the Leisure Class. Beginning in early August 1889, César Ritz, a Swiss hotelier, met Richard D'Oyly Carte, the financier of Gilbert & Sullivan's comic operas, who wanted to create the world's best hotel. D'Oyly Carte convinced Ritz to move to London with a team that included Auguste Escoffier, his chef de cuisine. The book charts the trio's foray into creating the most extravagant hotel the world had ever seen.

This show is guest hosted by Kai Wright.