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A review by bookedwithcourtney
Your Table Is Ready: Tales of a New York City Maître D by Michael Cecchi-Azzolina
5.0
"Whoa whoa whoa. When you get a dick, you can order." male diner to his female dinner date; customer of [a:Michael Cecchi-Azzolina|22057791|Michael Cecchi-Azzolina|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]
This is one of many startling quotes and pieces of information that truly make Your Table Is Ready a wild ride. Thank you so much to Net Galley, St. Martin's Press, and Mr. Cecchi-Azzolina (I feel like he's about to seat me, so I'm calling him Mr. -- the book wholly ushered me into the world of restaurant work!) for an audio ARC of this book.
Cecchi's debut is an impressive montage of both life in the restaurant business and life growing up in a mob-influenced, Brooklyn-based Italian household. After reading, it's quite clear how one influenced the other. Cecchi grew up in a household where you didn't ask questions -- you listened. You didn't make a fuss -- you swallowed your pride, and you continued to listen . He didn't know it at the time, but this upbringing permeated into his success in the restaurant business, where there is quite the hierarchy of which I was not aware. Many of Cecchi's experiences involved shutting the hell up and taking orders.
While Cecchi clearly explained that restaurant work indeed has a negative effect on various relationships, it would have been enlightening to learn more about how his restaurant work caused his relationships to go sour. Was it the long nights? The "shmoozing?" How did Cecchi end up with a wife and kids as he navigated the throes of restaurant work? It seems this information has a place, considering Cecchi combined remarkable, food-service storytelling with his honest memoir.
The overall theme in Cecchi's book is that restaurant work isn't simply "a job." Those who trudge knee-deep through 10-12 hour shifts and take customers' shit all day don't do it because there's nothing else to do; they keep coming back to feel the adrenaline. At the end of his debut, Cecchi takes a step that solidifies the truth in that statement.
The narration absolutely helped me life inside the book! Cecchi narrated, and the passion in his voice -- and that Brooklyn style accent -- helps transport listeners into a world where they seat and serve guests.
For fans of Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential comes this phenomenal debut about the "front of house," and it couldn't be better. Get your copy on #pubday: 12/6/22!
This is one of many startling quotes and pieces of information that truly make Your Table Is Ready a wild ride. Thank you so much to Net Galley, St. Martin's Press, and Mr. Cecchi-Azzolina (I feel like he's about to seat me, so I'm calling him Mr. -- the book wholly ushered me into the world of restaurant work!) for an audio ARC of this book.
Cecchi's debut is an impressive montage of both life in the restaurant business and life growing up in a mob-influenced, Brooklyn-based Italian household. After reading, it's quite clear how one influenced the other. Cecchi grew up in a household where you didn't ask questions -- you listened. You didn't make a fuss -- you swallowed your pride, and you continued to listen . He didn't know it at the time, but this upbringing permeated into his success in the restaurant business, where there is quite the hierarchy of which I was not aware. Many of Cecchi's experiences involved shutting the hell up and taking orders.
While Cecchi clearly explained that restaurant work indeed has a negative effect on various relationships, it would have been enlightening to learn more about how his restaurant work caused his relationships to go sour. Was it the long nights? The "shmoozing?" How did Cecchi end up with a wife and kids as he navigated the throes of restaurant work? It seems this information has a place, considering Cecchi combined remarkable, food-service storytelling with his honest memoir.
The overall theme in Cecchi's book is that restaurant work isn't simply "a job." Those who trudge knee-deep through 10-12 hour shifts and take customers' shit all day don't do it because there's nothing else to do; they keep coming back to feel the adrenaline. At the end of his debut, Cecchi takes a step that solidifies the truth in that statement.
The narration absolutely helped me life inside the book! Cecchi narrated, and the passion in his voice -- and that Brooklyn style accent -- helps transport listeners into a world where they seat and serve guests.
For fans of Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential comes this phenomenal debut about the "front of house," and it couldn't be better. Get your copy on #pubday: 12/6/22!