On Fri, 09 Jul 2004 14:56:10 GMT, Cindy Fuller
> wrote:

>I just finished reading Jacques Pépin's "The Apprentice." Excellent
>book, written in a very conversational style. Unlike many
>autobiographies, Pépin doesn't puff up his own talents and tear down
>other people. It struck me as the anti-"Kitchen Confidential". He also
>includes a related recipe or two at the end of each chapter.
>
>Cindy

I really liked Pepin's memoir, too. His generosity and good spirit
are a far cry from the major league ego in Bourdain's book (which I
enjoyed as well).

I just finished George Orwell's "Down and Out in Paris and London."
His description of the workings of a hotel kitchen in Paris coincides
interestingly with Bourdain's take in several ways, though his point
of view (from the bottom of the heirarchy) leads him to very different
evaluations. Orwell's book was written in the early 1930's, by the
way. Not much has changed, it seems. Well there are health
inspectors and more regulations now, so perhaps the filth Orwell was
at pains to describe is a little less repugnant now.


modom

"If you have a racist friend,
Now is the time, now is the time
For your friendship to end."
-- The Specials