Garlic and Sapphires
The Secret Life of A Critic in Disguise
Large Print - 2005
GARLIC AND SAPPHIRESis Ruth Reichl's riotous account of the many disguises she employs to dine anonymously. There is her stint as Molly Hollis, a frumpy blond with manicured nails and an off-beige Armani suit that Ruth takes on when reviewing Le Cirque. The result: her famous double review of the restaurant: first she ate there as Molly; and then as she was coddled and pampered on her visit there as Ruth, New York Times food critic. What is even more remarkable about Reichl's spy games is that as she takes on these various disguises, she finds herself changed not just superficially, but in character as well. She gives a remarkable account of how one's outer appearance can very much influence one's inner character, expectations, and appetites. As she writes, "Every restaurant is a theater . . . even the modest restaurants offer the opportunity to become someone else, at least for a little while."GARLIC AND SAPPHIRESis a reflection on personal identity and role playing in the decadent, epicurean theaters of the restaurant world.
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Publisher:
New York : Random House Large Print, c2005.
Edition:
First large print edition
ISBN:
9780375435461
0375435468
0375435468
Branch Call Number:
LARGE PRINT 641.5092 REICHL R
Characteristics:
528 pages (large print) ; 24 cm.
large print
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Add a CommentIncluding the reviews makes for some redundancy. While nominally about food, the book is more about finding the possibilities in your life -- for good or ill -- and making the best of them.
Funny & enthralling. The disguises vary from a silver-haired, blue-dressed, pearl-wearing, no-nonsense mother incarnation of the author, to "Brenda" a frizzy-haired redhead who is a hippy fashionista whom the author's son thought was more cheerful and fun than his real mother, to "Chloe" a blonde clad in a black silk suit who (with the approval of the author's husband) goes on a dinner date with a pompous fool named Dan that lasts for three and a half hours of continual eating. Other disguises I will not reveal! Highly recommended!
A delightful memoir; a great read for anyone with an interest in food, NYC, or writing. Ruth, a food critic, describes the different personalities and costumes she adopted to disguise herself while dining in New York. Includes recipes and reviews she wrote for the NYT.
This is a wonderful non-fiction about a love of food and an evaluation of how we are treated. It is a unique view of the restaurant business.
I really enjoy this woman's descriptions of foods and restaurants, in addition to her loving and compassionate attitude towards her family and friends. She's a good writer who always makes me hungry, always inspires me to get in the kitchen and try something new and makes me a little envious, but in a good way!
I thought my days of reading until dawn were long over. This book proved me wrong. It is a page turner. I would never have thought a memoir could be that. What a wonderful book. I already have two other books that she's waiting on hold. Enjoy!
This is my favorite book. Ruth Reichl tells her story and one may laugh out loud and truly enjoy the ride.
What can i say about this book, except that i simply loved it. she made you feel as if you were in the restaurants with her eating all of that great food. it is one i would recommend highly to others
Very entertaining! Reads like fiction.
It is an amazing story about a food critic whom goes to great lengths to disguise herself from chefs and wait staff in restaurants she is reviewing.