The Man Who Changed the Way We Eat

Craig Claiborne and the American Food Renaissance

De: Thomas McNamee

Narrado por: Dick Hill

In the 1950s, America was a land of overdone roast beef and canned green beans-a gastronomic wasteland. Most restaurants relied on frozen, second-rate ingredients and served bogus "Continental" cuisine. Authentic French, Italian, and Chinese foods were virtually unknown. There was no such thing as food criticism at the time, and no such thing as a restaurant critic. Cooking at home wasn't thought of as a source of pleasure. Guests didn't chat around the kitchen. Professional equipment and cookware were used only in restaurants. One man changed all that.

From the best-selling author of Alice Waters and Chez Panisse comes the first biography of the passionate gastronome and troubled genius who became the most powerful force in the history of American food - the founding father of the American food revolution.

From his first day in 1957 as the food editor of The New York Times, Craig Claiborne was going to take his readers where they had never been before. Claiborne extolled the pleasures of exotic cuisines from all around the world, and with his inspiration, restaurants of every ethnicity blossomed. So many things we take for granted now were introduced to us by Claiborne: crème fraîche, arugula, balsamic vinegar, the Cuisinart, chef's knives, even the salad spinner.

He would give Julia Child her first major book review. He brought Paul Bocuse, the Troisgros brothers, Paul Prudhomme, and Jacques Pépin to national acclaim. His $4,000 dinner for two in Paris was a front-page story in the Times and scandalized the world. And while he defended the true French nouvelle cuisine against bastardization, he also reveled in a well-made stew or a good hot dog. He made home cooks into stars: Marcella Hazan, Madhur Jaffrey, Diana Kennedy, and many others. And Claiborne made dinner an event - whether dining out, delighting your friends, or simply cooking for your family. His own dinner parties were legendary.

Claiborne was the perfect Mississippi gentleman, but his inner life was one of conflict and self-doubt. Constrained by his position to mask his sexuality, he was imprisoned in solitude, never able to find a stable and lasting love. Through Thomas McNamee's painstaking research and eloquent storytelling, The Man Who Changed the Way We Eat unfolds a history that is largely unknown and also tells the full, deep story of a great man who until now has never been truly known at all.

©2012 Thomas McNamee (P)2012 Tantor

Reseñas de la Crítica

"McNamee deftly explores the glittering public life and far-reaching contributions Claiborne made to America's food culture, as well as his troubled personal life. A highly readable, well-researched narrative chronicling America's boring culinary past and the one man who altered its course forever." ( Kirkus)

Worth the listen

This book gives a great historical background of the development of our current food culture here in the U.S.A. It turns out we are a teachable & flexible people. I loved the story...but the reader was a little difficult to listen to...very exaggerated intonation, but worth listening to in spite of...

Not Much Story Once Claiborne Achieves Success

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The narrator.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The build of Craig Claiborne finding his way in life, coming up with a dream, and achieving it. Once he has it, though, the momentum is lost, Claiborne becomes a mostly still functional alcoholic, and it catches up with him. End of story. Not much there. No great payoff or life lessons learned.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Dick Hill?

Anyone. Honestly, what was the guy thinking? What was his producer thinking? Who were they narrating for, did they think? Thankfully, after the first hour or two the narrator tones it down noticeably from what you hear on the sample, but still, just about anyone would have been better.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Probably not. I don't enjoy spending time with nasty, mean-spirited drunks in life nor in art.

Any additional comments?

It was interesting to learn about how Claiborne's work, like that of Julia Child, shaped America's interest in better food and ultimately in foodie pursuits. It was also interesting to learn how Pierre Franey fit into the equation. I'd read it just for this aspect, but with the understanding that it's truthful and doesn't have a nice payoff like fiction might.

To his credit the author writes it well and also gives aside notes to clarify things. Well done an appreciated.

Interesting subject - annoying narrator

What made the experience of listening to The Man Who Changed the Way We Eat the most enjoyable?

Fascinating man who truly influenced how Americans viewed dining.

What didn’t you like about Dick Hill’s performance?

Mr. Hill is so over the top that it makes listening challenging. He overplays by over-enunciating and it becomes majorly distracting. I would have preferred a much subtler approach.