Garlic and Sapphires : : the Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise

Locations
Call Number: 641.509 Re
On Shelf At: Downtown Library

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	641.509 Re	4-week checkout	On Shelf

Includes index.

REVIEWS & SUMMARIES

Library Journal Review
Booklist Review
Publishers Weekly Review
Summary / Annotation
Fiction Profile
Excerpt
Author Notes

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

The Secret Life of a Food Critic submitted by Sara W on June 20, 2011, 11:26pm I can't afford fancy meals in expensive restaurants, which is fine, since I'm pretty sure I would hate everything they ever served me. But Ruth Reichl's memoir of her tenure as the New York Times food critic made me wish I could enjoy black truffles, sashimi and foie gras just because she does.

Reichl developed a habit of eating for her reviews in disguise, a ploy that allowed her to get around the star treatment and eat as the people eat in these establishments. It's fun to follow along as she discovers her fame and begins to enjoy circumventing it. She describes each persona and costume as richly and enthusiastically as she describes her opulent meals.

Reichl was begged to join the Times after working as a food critic in L.A. and was given an expense account the size of a Texas cattle herd to judge the best restaurants in the city, but it really never sounds like she's bragging. She sounds delighted when restaurants are as good as their reputation and when they aren't, she sounds offended on behalf of the average people spending money for the experience.

I devoured this book in one rainy afternoon and if I reread it someday, I'll make sure to have more snack foods around.

Garlic and Sapphires submitted by erksnerks on July 12, 2011, 9:11am I read this book a while ago, and am just now reviewing it simply because I can still hear passages of it in my head. Written in a fresh tingle sort of manner, candid and brilliant. The tales of a food critique told from the heart. Lovely character descriptions. Well done.

Wow, loved this book submitted by mandevil on September 7, 2020, 2:02pm What a fun memoir. Years ago i would visit NYC with my former partner. We have eaten in some if the restaurants she highlights. How great to relive some of those fabulous meals by reading this book. We always stayed with his cousin so could spend some money on eating out

Great memoir! submitted by ahlalejini on July 18, 2022, 2:27pm Love Ruth Reichl's books and this was a really fun read