The Recipe

A Story of Loss, Love, and the Ingredients of Greatness

By: Charles M. Carroll, John David Mann

Narrated by: John David Mann

Length: 5 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

"Always be hungry, Owen," the Chef said softly. "Don't ever let life just wash over you. Savor it - every smell, every taste, every sound. That's rule one, Owen: Taste everything."

Owen Devon used to have a pretty good life. At least until a few months ago, when disaster struck his family. Now his grades are plunging and his life is spiraling out of control. To make matters worse, he's just been tagged for vandalism - and to repay the damage, he's being put to work for the crusty old owner of the local diner. But there's a lot about the old man that Owen doesn't know - and in this diner's cramped little kitchen, he's going to learn a lot more than how to cook an excellent meal....

From eight-time Culinary Olympian Chef Charles Carroll and New York Times best-selling author John David Mann (The Go-Giver) comes a tale of heartbreak and redemption, about a boy who learns to overcome tragedy and carve out a life of excellence and honor through cooking lessons at the hands of a retired chef. Blending poignant storytelling with vivid culinary detail, The Recipe offers listeners a compelling recipe for personal greatness. Throughout the story the listener also learns key cooking concepts, cutting techniques, and other practical secrets of the kitchen. Includes a complete set of recipes for dishes cooked in the story.

©2017 John David Mann (P)2017 John David Mann

Inspirational, heartwarming, excellent

I devoured this listen, thankful to my own time in the kitchen and many mentors that got me through the “sh**head” part of my adolescence and built me into the hospitality professional I am today. I was oh so impressed with every bit of this novel and cannot say enough wonderful things to accurately share the intense inspiration and emotion this story compelled me to. I am grateful to have come across this one and will share it far and wide.

A must for those of us who love to cook!

There are many ways in which cooking can change someone’s life. For us, cooks or chefs, life in the kitchen brings as much joy as hard work. Reading this book reminded me of how we can help change the world and other people’s life’s with what we do. Not only by improving everything we touch, but by inspiring with our work, our ethics and our example. What a wonderful story! Rules to live a full life in the kitchen and in life.

Taste Everything, A rule to live by.

Taste everything. If you learn nothing from this amazing story learn that. I have the pleasure of speaking with both the author and the co-author about the book, how the story developed, and the characters within the book. I know this is a work of fiction but it feels so real. (Btw I read the print copy first)

I could identify with Owen, the boy in the book and how he feels after his loss. Having been through a very similar situation with the loss of my father. The grizzled chef reminds me of all the tough but loving mentors I’ve had through my life, making this wonderful work even more touching for me.

The Recipe is one of those works that once you read it you must pass it on to someone you love and ask them to pass it on. It was a true pleasure to experience this work and to pass on my copy.