My friend once told me about this book and it sounded interesting – the only other details I know is that I think it is a true story, and the chef who is a woman is a famous chef and she kept her identity secret once she moved. Apparently in the place where she moved (an island I think?) they eat really bland food and don’t have anything much available. She then has lots of gourmet food shipped to her and she cooks an amazing meal for the people.

"Babette’s Feast" by Isak Dinesen
http://www.amazon.com/Babettes-Feast-Other-Anecdotes-Destiny/dp/039475929X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1236137602&sr=1-1
Babette had been a chef in Paris. She fled France and went to live in a remote village in Denmark. She worked for two spinster sisters, never telling them she was a great cook. She prepared bland, boring meals for them for about fifteen years. Then, Babette won the lottery. She prepared a feast for the entire village; she had all the food brought to Denmark. This story was made into a movie in the ’80’s.