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Mohrbooks Literary Agency
Sebastian Ritscher
Original language
English
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FOOD AND THE CITY

Ina Yalof

New York's Professional Chefs, Restaurateurs, Line Cooks, Street Vendors, and Purveyors Talk About What They Do and Why They Do It

Ina Yalof’s FOOD AND THE CITY is a unique look behind the curtain at some of New York’s most famous eateries from the mouths of everyone from the chefs and restaurant owners, to suppliers, line cooks, oyster shuckers, food truck proprietors, and more.
New York is the city that never stops eating. From world-class restaurants to the local pizza joint, tourists and native New Yorkers alike flock to the establishments that make the city a global culinary powerhouse. In FOOD AND THE CITY, Yalof sits down with the men and women who form New York’s gastronomic backbone, including the guy who sells halal out of his truck on the corner of 53rd and 6th, the Executive Chef in Rupert Murdoch’s dining room at News Corp., the inventor of the infamous cronut, and so many more. These luminaries—who came to New York from all walks of life, all over the globe—share the personal histories that brought them to their current endeavors, the moments that changed the course of their careers, the real goings-on in the kitchen and the back office, and their secrets for success in one of the toughest markets in the world.

This oral history is full of unexpected moments that will appeal to everyone from amateurs to veteran cooks to those who simply love to eat. FOOD AND THE CITY is a carefully constructed tour that reads like a conversation with some of the most celebrated stars in the business. In their own words, these chefs and entrepreneurs reveal the many faces of the city that they all call home.

Ina Yalof is the author of the oral history Life and Death: The Story of a Hospital and has worked as a writer or co-writer on several other books. She lives and eats in New York.
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Book

Published 2016-05-31 by Putnam

Book

Published 2016-05-31 by Putnam

Comments

A noteworthy collection of intriguing stories that illustrate the perseverance, hard work, and passion for food that one must have to succeed. Fans of food memoirs and essays are sure to enjoy.

Ina Yalof’s FOOD AND THE CITY presents a uniquely wide view of the food landscape in New York by sharing the engaging voices and compelling stories of the vibrant people living and working in this world every day. By honing these tales, Yalof gives lucky readers an insider’s perspective on the diverse food world in New York City.

New Yorkers are so obsessed with eating, they often forget who’s getting the food to them. Here are their stories and their struggles, with appearances by hurricanes, ghettos, poverty, 9/11, Rikers Island, real wars and hot dog wars. You’ll be charmed and you’ll be moved.

Personality and humor shine brightly throughout these essays… From the oldest Chinese restaurant in New York to a Rikers Island food service overseer, each of these vignettes shares a common theme about devotion and dedication within the vast gastronomical spectrum… Collectively, Yalof’s assortment of cuisines and memories paints a multiculturally diverse food tapestry, and each individually embodies a passion of food artistry that crosses generations, cultures, nationalities, and all manner of palates. A wide-ranging, toothsome smorgasbord of Gotham’s good eats and the tireless men and women behind each plate.”

Each story in this book inspires me with the turn of the page. These are stories of passion, motivation, hardship and resilience. Ina Yalof has captured the ingredients for success in the NYC restaurant scene while weaving tales that showcase the unwavering spirit of our fellow New Yorkers.