Wanted More ... and Less

books:


	• Service Included: Four-Star Secrets of an Eavesdropping Waiter Phoebe Damrosch William Morrow, 2007 - 240 pages average customer review:based on 38 reviews view larger image
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LOVED IT!!

This was an excellent book. I'd highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in the food world and in the effects of food on the human experience. Phoebe had me laughing from the first page to the end. Her writing style is honest and clever, and delightful to read. If you're looking for a biography of Thomas Keller or a historical account of the Per Se restaurant, go read an encyclopedia. This is, as the author describes it, "creative nonfiction," and in my opinion, this book is one of the best.

Needs more spice

The premise of this book seems to be a Kitchen Confidential for the front of the house- the polish and precision of a multiple starred restaurant set against the foil of real people- the employees, the filthy rich public and foodies. The story starts off promising with lots of detail about the insane dedication of the staff and their training gives glimpses into why some people eat to live and others live to eat, and that Per Se is a restaurant for the latter crowd. Phoebe Damarosch's writing is agile enough, and this a quick read with some fun and interesting talking points that will likely stick with the reader for a long time to come: how to woo a food critic, a job in the service industry can be a satisfying and well-paid career choice and you won't be the first or last guest to throw up on the polished bronze floor at Per Se. The story looses it's way in the last half of the book with a tag-along on the author's romance that doesn't reach a conclusion- did they stay together, is he really just a cheating bastard, did they move to a larger apartment, did they get a dachshund or a bulldog? The Famous Chef himself makes only a cameo appearance, and the anecdotes about the clientele are limp- man celebrating his 80th birthday falls asleep at the table, an engagement ring with a Faberge Egg, a couple that snorts cocaine in between courses, Per Se groupies that want to hang out with the wait staff. The best dishy comments come when you least expect it and make you wish for more- Thomas Keller's own food philosophy.

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Enjoyable Book

I picked up this book because I am a former waiter, chef and caterer owner. I have never worked in a 4-star restaurant, but have dined in a number of them. Having spent countless time in restaurants, it was fun for me to read about her experiences and they brought back memories. (Although I basically hated waiting tables, the fun began after work.)

what I liked most about the book was when she wrote about eating high quality food that is organic, free-range and local.

As an environmentalist who eats organic and local food, this was very appealing. For example, her description of artisan cheese from a small farm in Vermont was terrific.

Author ofaward winning book, Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify and Energize Your Life, Your Home and Your Planet

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Wanted More ... and Less

A short (200+ pages), quick (conversational; high-energy) memoir describing the culinary creativity and exemplary service that combine to make New York City's Per Se a 4-star restaurant.

However, there's nothing exemplary here literary-wise, and I wanted to read more, more, more about the workings of the restaurant and its patrons ... and less about the author's romance.

reviews: 1, page 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

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