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181 reviews for:
Dirt: Adventures in Lyon as a Chef in Training, Father, and Sleuth Looking for the Secret of French Cooking
Bill Buford
3.67 AVERAGE
181 reviews for:
Dirt: Adventures in Lyon as a Chef in Training, Father, and Sleuth Looking for the Secret of French Cooking
Bill Buford
3.67 AVERAGE
I didn't finish Dirt. Buford has a matter-of-fact writing style that didn't hold my attention. If you like food and nonfiction books, you'll probably like Dirt. It just wasn't for me.
This book was a fascinating insight into living and cooking in France. From the descriptions of hazing and extreme treatment in Michelin starred kitchens, to the importance of local ingredients and knowing your community, to how different it is to raise a family in another country, I learned a lot. I feel like I've become more aware of my own methods of cooking and preparing, and there was enough discussion of learning French and speaking French that I started thinking in my very rusty high school French. Definitely recommend.
The writing definitely meanders in Buford’s quest to become a French chef and learn the origins of French cooking. However, I found the meandering charming. I liked how Buford combined his experiences and research. It’s a little too long, but still a good read.
Narrative isn't as tight as Heat and his experience is rather different now that he's a Famous Food Writer (about which I *think* he is self-aware and somewhat tongue in cheek) and easily meets and befriends countless famous chefs but if you're interested in cooking and curious about the highest-end versions of it there's much to enjoy here.
Buford, a journalist moves his family to France to pursue his dream of being a French chef. This is not my dream. In fact, if I read this book correctly, I probably wouldn't make it past the visa process. But I do like reading stories about the food and the restaurant business.
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
This book just wasn't interesting. I think part of it was the author, who could win a prize for being a self-centered hack. Anything interesting about food and cooking was buried under the other stuff. Too many good books to read, moving on.
adventurous
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced