Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

Your Table Is Ready: Tales of a New York City Maître D by Michael Cecchi-Azzolina

6 reviews

laneylo's review

funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

4.0

Interesting times were documented in this memoir. If you, like me, have worked in the food industry or have ever been curious about what goes on - perhaps fans of food travel channels - this book is so enthralling. Definitely a niche topic but the author has so much personality and it was very entertaining overall.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Classism, Alcohol, and Cursing

Minor: Gun violence, Racism, Suicide, Violence, Addiction, Blood, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Excrement, Death, Abandonment, and Drug use

zzfinch's review

adventurous funny reflective slow-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Alcoholism, Addiction, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Alcohol

books_blackcats's review against another edition

funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Sexual content, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Alcohol, Addiction, and Grief

Mentions of AIDs

amcgriff's review against another edition

dark reflective sad fast-paced

1.5

I read Kitchen Confidential years ago, but from what I remember it was much better. It felt like the author wanted to be shocking and revelatory. But it's not shocking as much as it is repetitive tales of bad behavior, mundane adrenaline tinged services and faux disasters in the making with wealthy people and celebrities sprinkled throughout. Anyone that worked front of house will have moments of feeling nostalgic or have PTSD flashbacks, maybe a little of both. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Misogyny, Alcohol, Drug use, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Physical abuse, Addiction, and Alcoholism

Minor: Death, Excrement, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail

rebeccazacuto's review

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

Evocative of Kitchen Confidential, mirroring a similar reflective and dark tone. Not quite as funny as Bourdain, but entertaining none the less. Unveiling insider secrets about the restaurant industry from the front of house pov.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol, and Addiction

krysley's review against another edition

funny informative fast-paced

4.0

 Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion. 

If your favorite episode of Top Chef is Restaurant Wars, then you'll need to read this. The anecdotes are very informative about how the front of the house is run, but seeing behind the scenes is even better. It is an excellent companion book to Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential, though not quite as well written. 

It did get a little tiring in the middle to hear about everyone's sex life and Michael Cecchi-Azzolina likes to name drop a lot (though we hardly ever get to hear about the top female chefs he's encountered). 

I would highly recommend listening to it because Cecchi-Azzolina does an excellent job. His acting background shines through in his performance. Just overall enjoyable.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Drug use, Alcohol, Addiction, Excrement, Bullying, and Racism