Marilyn, Are You Sure You Can Cook? He Asked (Hardcover)

by Marilyn Lewis (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Marilyn Lewis has been feeding and clothing the glitterati in Hollywood, Washington, D.C., and across the country for decades. First gaining fame as the glamorous helmstress (with husband Harry) of the legendary actors-serve-actors Hamburger Hamlet, Marilyn went on to become one of the first woman CEOs of a multi-million dollar company; designer of her own successful couture clothing line (Cardinali, dressing Marlo Thomas, Dionne Warwick, and Eydie Gorme among others); and most recently, producer of feature films on cultural icons Andy Warhol and Ayn Rand. Through it all, Marilyn was never too busy to prepare feast after feast, earning her an intimate place in the hearts of the stars, starletts, and sundry colorful characters that flocked to her table. In "MARILYN, ARE YOU SURE YOU CAN COOK?", Marilyn shares the captivating story of her eclectic times in what is by turns charming, inspirational memoir and engaging history of America's food revolution. In addition to her many vibrant, heartfelt remembrances, this volume includes Marilyn's signature recipes, from a silky lobster bisque to her legendary hamburger to a leg of lamb that helped sell the icy Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Bergdorf Goodman buyers the first Cardinali collection. If you've ever dreamed of opening a restaurant, becoming a designer, or producing a film, Marilyn Lewis shows you that with the right ingredients and an adjustable flame, dreams can and really do come true.

About the Author
MARILYN LEWIS lives in Los Angeles, California.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Ten Speed Press; illustrated edition edition (March 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580082963
• ISBN-13: 978-1580082969
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #435,789 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars And she can WRITE, he said!, November 1, 2000

By	W. J. Smith (Castro Valley, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This interesting memoir of a rags to self-made riches story not only tells a compelling tale but comes with a very pleasant surprise: Marilyn Lewis can not only cook and created designer clothing--she can write! Her style is uniquely her own-sparse yet colorfully descriptive, emotional without sinking into self pity, strong yet never harsh. Thank goodness Lewis did not fall prey to the temptation to hire a ghost writer. What a waste that would have been. As a result the reader is treated to her unique and inspiring story, made all the more enjoyable by a writing style that never ceases to entertain. Bravo.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Secret to Success Recipe?, March 29, 2002

By	ryan (LA) - See all my reviews

MARILYN ARE YOU SURE YOU CAN COOK? HE ASKED
Every once in a while one comes across a book that's truly inspirational, and this one says it all. Marilyn Lewis takes you by the hand and thrusts you into the world of entertainment, excitement, movie stars, recipes, design, and family, all the while introducing us to her own style of prose. There are poignant moments, understated and wise, that speak volumes to the reader. This was not an easy road, and it was told honestly and with a rare sense of innocence, savvy and humor.We are given a personal tour of the thoughts and feelings of a true entrepreneur, and we learn that anyone wanting to achieve a modicum of success must take risks.I think that everyone SECRETLY wants to run a restaurant, and Marilyn shows us how to pull it off. And if that's not all...she makes a movie! Kidnapped? Yes! Disappointed? Many times! Survivor? You bet! This is not just a woman's story, but a benchmark for anyone who has a dream--and seeks the blueprints for success. A MUST READ! Take a much deserved bow, Ms. Lewis!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marilyn Dishes Up a Six-course Meal and more!, March 7, 2003

By	Citizen Jarvis (Palm Springs, California, USA) - See all my reviews

Anybody in the business world or on the inside track of Los Angeles life knows who Marilyn and Harry Lewis are; their building of the Hamburger Hamlet dynasty is legendary. What makes this truly fascinating book come to life though, is the "true Marilyn" who jumps from the page. With many autobios, you can read it cover to cover and not know a whit more about the real person behind that public visage when you're done.

Not here. There's a lot more served up than some famous recipes and a few anecdotes; Lewis manages to capture the Zeitgeist of the time in which she and Harry lived and loved; a period of Show Business and Big Business colliding an L.A. full of fashion and film and some sad realities along the way.

I'd love to give details but I'm not blowing any surprises. Suffice to say the book is a surprise a mix of personal and public life, and every darn thing that happens when you're a woman with boundless talent and the energy of a high school sprinter. For instance, did you know that under a completely different name,in a completely different world, Marilyn Lewis was also famous for something that had nothing to do with her culinary crown? Double-famous in two different worlds: that's not luck. This is an extraordinary woman.

Marilyn Lewis's own peronal story is downright fascinating; from such humble beginnings she became the Grande Dame of Los Angeles's love for food, fashion, and passion. You can't put Lewis in a box.....her proven "wins" in evrything from film to filet mignon come with a story, a real story, about a real woman who was ahead of her time and made a lot of people plain catch up.

Written with the class you'd expect from one of the shining stars of Los Angeles social life, Marilyn tosses class and candor like a salad, and the result is a can't-put-it-down page turner.

I give this prize of a book my highest recommendation. The Marilyn Lewis you're going to meet in this book is probably not who you thought was on the menu. But I'd put her compelling voice and prolific humanity up against any creme brulee in town: Mrs. Lewis emerges like a creme brulee, in fact: a tough cookie and nobody's fool on the outside, and downright delicious, smooth and all class on the inside.

Give this book a read; it'll show you a Los Angeles (and a world) that may not even be possible anymore.....unless another Marilyn and Harry Lewis show up in town. For now, I'll take the originals....and they're both right here in plaintive sight. Enjoy the meal, and boy, does she know some of the juciest tidbits of Los Angeles's golden age. Enjoy, and don't forget to tip well.