Harper Academic

Chefs, Drugs and Rock & Roll

How Food Lovers, Free Spirits, Misfits and Wanderers Created a New American Profession

by Andrew Friedman

On Sale: 03/12/2019

Price: $18.99

Chefs, Drugs and Rock & Roll

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Chefs, Drugs and Rock & Roll

How Food Lovers, Free Spirits, Misfits and Wanderers Created a New American Profession

by Andrew Friedman

On Sale: 03/12/2019

Format:

Price: $18.99

About the Book

An all-access history of the evolution of the American restaurant chef

Chefs, Drugs and Rock & Roll transports readers back in time to witness the remarkable evolution of the American restaurant chef in the 1970s and '80s. Taking a rare, coast-to-coast perspective, Andrew Friedman goes inside Chez Panisse and other Bay Area restaurants to show how the politically charged backdrop of Berkeley helped draw new talent to the profession; into the historically underrated community of Los Angeles chefs, including a young Wolfgang Puck and future stars such as Susan Feniger, Mary Sue Milliken, and Nancy Silverton; and into the clash of cultures between established French chefs in New York City and the American game changers behind The Quilted Giraffe, The River Cafe, and other East Coast establishments. We also meet young cooks of the time such as Tom Colicchio and Emeril Lagasse who went on to become household names in their own right. Along the way, the chefs, their struggles, their cliques, and, of course, their restaurants are brought to life in vivid detail. As the '80's unspool, we see the profession evolve as American masters like Thomas Keller rise, and watch the genesis of a “chef nation” as these culinary pioneers crisscross the country to open restaurants and collaborate on special events, and legendary hangouts like Blue Ribbon become social focal points, all as the industry-altering Food Network shimmers on the horizon.

Told largely in the words of the people who lived it, as captured in more than two hundred author interviews with writers like Ruch Reichl and legends like Jeremiah Tower, Alice Waters, Jonathan Waxman, and Barry Wine, Chefs, Drugs and Rock & Roll treats readers to an unparalleled 360-degree re-creation of the business and the times through the perspectives not only of the groundbreaking chefs but also of line cooks, front-of-house personnel, investors, and critics who had front-row seats to this extraordinary transformation.

Critical Praise

“An intriguing perspective on a profession that very quickly captivated our attention—a great gift idea for the foodie in the house.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Andrew Friedman’s new book is impressive; the depth of research is quite astonishing. I haven’t read anything like it.” — Ruth Reichl, food writer

“Friedman’s passion for the subject infuses every anecdote, detail, and interview, making this culinary narrative an engrossing experience.” — Publishers Weekly

“Fast, furious, and fun...Get out your napkins, because Chefs, Drugs and Rock & Roll is as irresistible as a bowl of house-made chips.” — Wall Street Journal

“A lively, anecdotal romp through the rise of modern American cuisine from the early 1970s to the early ’90s.” — New York Post

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Product Details

  • ISBN: 9780062225863
  • ISBN 10: 0062225863
  • Imprint: Ecco
  • On Sale: 03/12/2019
  • Trimsize: 6.000 in (w) x 9.000 in (h) x 1.080 in (d)
  • Pages: 480
  • List Price: $18.99
  • BISAC1 : HISTORY / Social History
  • BISAC2 : COOKING / History
  • BISAC3 : COOKING / Individual Chefs & Restaurants