Garlic and Sapphires

The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise

De: Ruth Reichl

Narrado por: Bernadette Dunne

Garlic and Sapphires is Ruth Reichl's riotous account of the many disguises she employs to dine anonymously. There is her stint as Molly Hollis, a frumpy blond with manicured nails and an off-beige Armani suit that Ruth takes on when reviewing Le Cirque. The result: her famous double review of the restaurant: First she ate there as Molly; and then as she was coddled and pampered on her visit there as Ruth, New York Times food critic.

What is even more remarkable about Reichl's spy games is that as she takes on these various disguises, she finds herself changed not just superficially, but in character as well. She gives a remarkable account of how one's outer appearance can very much influence one's inner character, expectations, and appetites.

As she writes, "Every restaurant is a theater...even the modest restaurants offer the opportunity to become someone else, at least for a little while." Garlic and Sapphires is a reflection on personal identity and role playing in the decadent, epicurean theaters of the restaurant world.

Download the accompanying reference guide.©2005 Ruth Reichl (P)2005 Books on Tape, Inc.

Reseñas de la Crítica

Winner - Audie Awards, 2006

"This wonderful book is funny - at times laugh-out-loud funny - and smart and wise." (The Washington Post)

"Reichl is so gifted...the reader remains hungry for more." (USA Today)

"Expansive and funny." (Entertainment Weekly)

Dream Job

This book was an interesting look at Ruth Reichl's career as restaurant reviewer for the New York Times. Yes, it would be my dream job, but I doubt if I could enter into the masaquerade as fully, and with such joy, as Ruth. I love her sense of fun even as she's working. Her idea to return to restaurants masquerading as different people to see how other classes are treated was genius.
I'd invite her to dinner any time. Whether she liked my food or not, I would be sure of receiving an honest opinion and have a lively & intelligent dinner guest.

Wonderful book

I love Ruth and I don’t even know her. Her life is an inspiration to mine and her memoirs reveal so much of her humanity. If I ever had the privilege of meeting her I think we would be friend.

Made me hungry!

This was a fun read! I can't wait to try some of the included recipes!

Just wonderful!

If you love food, and it helps too if you're a fan of Gourmet magazine, you'll find this is a magical book. Beautifully read as well.

excellent!

great narration. such an interesting story. will be purchasing another of her memoirs. top chef meets tootsie!

But how do I write down the recipes?

Delightful read AND a real education about food -- I'll never just eat my way through a good meal again without savoring every taste! Even engaged my non-foodie teenage daughter. My only complaint is that it's very difficult to go back and find the recipes -- the audio breaks don't even coincide with chapter breaks, it seems.

Thoroughly enjoyed the journey she led me on !

What a beautiful book! I felt like I was living her life in New York...thanks Ruth! So much fun!

Had High Expactations...

I had very high expectations of this book from all of the reviews. And yes, I did enjoy it. It was easy to listen to... and entertaining. About 3/4 of the way through the book, I started to think, "Ugh. The same plot. Another disguise, another review, another recipe." There wasn't that much to the plot. With many audiobooks, I can't stop listening to the story. This one I could turn off and come back to later.

It wasn't until the very end of the book, and the interview with the author, that I realized this was a true story. I was surprised that this wasn't part of the book overview. Knowing that, I would have been a little more patient with the plot... I think :)

Entertaining

could have done without some of the detailed discussions of the food and the recipes - I now its a book about food but... but I found it very entertaining. Liked the narrator

An amazing storyteller

I had to give this book another listen this last week. Ruth spoke at a Town Hall presentation last week in my hometown. In both her speech and her book, she reminded me of so many things I’ve loved in life. She reminded me about what I love in food; preparing it, sharing it, dining with friends, a simple dinner with my youngest child or entertaining a few dozen in our home. It was refreshing.