It started in my book club. We read a chef memoir/biography titled A Thousand Days in Venice and I was hooked. While an avid reader, I've never been inclined to spend too much of my time on fiction. I do, from time to time, sit down with a good crime thriller - I have, after all, read all of the The Girl with... books by Stieg Larsson - three books which are not, by the way, for the faint of heart, the mild of spirit or the easily perturbed by our sick society. They definitely do not fit, "whatsoever things are pure" and at moments left me questioning my sensibilities for utilizing my spare time absorbing them. Setting that confession aside, I am addicted to biographies and memoirs, particularly those dealing with life in the kitchen. I miss, sometimes ache, for life "on the line" - the busy hectic pace of a restaurant kitchen. The steam, the sweat, the adrenaline. Professional kitchens are filled with adrenaline junkies, myself included. Reading about the thrill that others too have found in restaurant work is a pleasure I often oblige in. After A Thousand Days in Venice...
...came Blood, Bones and Butter...
...and then I was starving for more and thankful for Amazon, especially their handy "books like this" tool where I can continue to find morsels of enjoyment similar to those I have already devoured. Following Gabrielle Hamilton was Jacques Pepin's work, the cleanest in the language department and my favorite thus far...
He simply led the most exciting life and his childhood alone was remarkable. I grew up watching "Jacques and Julia" on public television and they alone are responsible for my support of PBS broadcasting. Without such programs my culinary development would not be what it is as they simply engage the audience and challenge viewers to really know and love their food. Currently, I am working my way through the humorous and rowdy adventure (anything written about or pertaining to Mario Batali would indeed include the descriptive 'rowdy') that Bill Buford undertook in order to give us Heat:
I'm a little panicked as I look at my saved shopping cart on Amazon (it's dwindling) and anxious to find more good reads. In the meantime, I'm happy that I still have this treasure to delve into next...
Happy reading everyone!! It truly is one of life's simplest and most fulfilling pleasures.
