Cooked: From the Streets to the Stove, from Cocaine to Foie Gras [Audio CD]

Jeff Henderson (Author, Narrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2007

Cooking cocaine is remarkably similar to cooking foie gras. Both are costly ingredients and require careful attention. Left unattended, cocaine will go up in smoke; foie gras dissipates into a puddle of fat. So begins one man’s remarkable journey of transformation. Jeff Henderson grew up in the inner-city streets of San Diego. He spent nine years in federal prison for dealing drugs, where he became fascinated with cooking and decided to pursue a career as a chef when released. Little did he know how hard it would be to climb to the top of this profession. He is now the executive chef at the Café Bellagio in Las Vegas. A combination of Angela’s Ashes and Finding Fish, this is the enthralling story of someone who has managed to overcome the most unimaginable adversity. Alive with the energy of street life, the sober reality of prison, and the visceral thrill of being inside the intense kitchens of great restaurants, Cooked is a journey through the America of crime, punishment, and redemption. And at it’s heart, it is a very human story of how even the worst mistakes can be overcome.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

How one of San Diego's most successful cocaine dealers became an award-winning chef [...] is the question that drives this sporadically inspired memoir. Henderson got his start dealing when his family moved to San Diego and he fell in with two street thugs. At age 25, after amassing a small fortune in drug money, Henderson was arrested, convicted and sentenced to 19 years in prison; once there, he discovered a love for cooking that gave him much-needed direction. After serving nine years, Henderson got an early release and began a series of grueling, occasionally demeaning jobs in kitchens, eventually working his way up to leading roles in Caesars Palace Hotel and elsewhere. Unfortunately, Henderson's story rings truest before he turns to the culinary; the fascinating level of detail in his description of the drug trade dissipates when it comes to the intricacies of working in and running a kitchen, lending his redemption a hollow feel. In addition, Henderson's casual reference to methods and equipment particular to the industry may leave amateur foodies nonplussed. While Henderson's achievements deserve recognition, this rushed retelling makes it difficult to fully appreciate his hard work.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Juggling coarsest street talk with purest narrative prose, Henderson relates his near-miraculous transformation from a thuggish Los Angeles drug dealer to an acclaimed Las Vegas chef--the Food Network meets Trainspotting. Introduced to a world of crime by his larcenous grandfather, Henderson descends from petty theft to big-time drug dealing, generating a cash flow that nets him fast cars and fancy houses. The law finally catches up with him, and he finds himself facing a long term in grim federal prison. Almost inadvertently, he starts working in the prison kitchen and discovers both a talent and a passion for making good food. Early release lets him pursue his dream and reconnect with a loving family. This tale of hard-won redemption juxtaposes the worlds of haute cuisine and illicit drugs, slyly exploring the parallels between manufacturing a batch of crack cocaine and sauteing foie gras. Mark Knoblauch
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Recorded Books (February 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1428144250
• ISBN-13: 978-1428144255
• Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,847,357 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #93 in Books > Books on CD > Cooking, Food & Wine

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome!, March 1, 2007

By 

fivegait (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cooked: From the Streets to the Stove, from Cocaine to Foie Gras (Hardcover)

This book is incredible. Jeff has an incredible personal story of overcoming adversity. He is an inspiration and the story reads fast and it is inspiring. It can inspire those of us that are unaware of the 'street life.' We need to hear stories of a young man that over-came the only life he knew and how he has now (as Maya Angelou says) become a rainbow in the clouds. Everyone should read this book and be thankful for all our big and small blessings. I've also heard Jeff speak and he is a powerful, engaging and thought-provoking speaker.

38 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional Story of Redemption, July 19, 2007

By 

Patrick Picciarelli "Author: THE POP LINE (Ha... (Pittsburgh. PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cooked: From the Streets to the Stove, from Cocaine to Foie Gras (Hardcover)

As a retired NYPD lieutenant, I've experienced my share of ex-cons who talk a good talk about "going straight" vs. those who actually do it. Mr. Henderson has written an inspirational and totally believable version of his life. I listened to the unabridged audio version of the book, with the autor as reader. While Mr. Henderson retains his street accent, this book could have been read by a polished reader with not nearly the impact.

So, coming from a cynical old cop, I believe I've found one of the few ex-con who speaks the truth about his desire to become a functioning member of society while attaining culinary heights not often relaized by those who've had more opportunities in life. Great book.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A life that you just want to celebrate., March 1, 2007

By 

love the written word (LA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cooked: From the Streets to the Stove, from Cocaine to Foie Gras (Hardcover)

To simplify the essence of who Jeff is, he is "the man." His story and survival is just "wow," awe inspiring. Not only did he survive the hell and challenges of poverty with no guidance from family, he was drawn into the "bling" world of drugs, fast money and sex. The blessing for Jeff was actually going to prison, and not because this put him on the path to achieving his dream of becoming a world class chef,prison kept him ALIVE.
"Cooked" is a well written book that is so down to earth and engaging, that you want to help that lost boy that was virtually alone in his youth, and celebrate with Jeff his current success. He writes brilliantly and draws his reader in with his beautiful style.
How lucky we all are to share in the "sweets" of Jeff's remarkable life and "dishes" at the Bellagio. Thanks for changing your life Jeff, we are all benefiting in our waist line.