Customer Reviews

Wife of the Chef

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

If you've ever thought you might want to be a part of the food world, you should read this book. Ms. Febbroriello certainly has a unique perspective, not only as wife of the chef and co-owner of a restaurant -- but as someone who shows only a passing interest in food at all. When her mother found out Courtney was dating a chef, she is quoted as saying, "That's such a waste. I should be the one dating a chef. At least I like food." Unfortunately, the author gives you all of the angst, drudgery, money worries, long hours, food hassles, media politics, etc. to running a restaurant without that gut-level passion for food that would make you believe that she feels it is all worthwhile. Her sense of humor is sometimes right on, like her "Chef Envy" references, and sometimes just feels crass or more like whining. This is Febbroriello's personal account (and keep in mind she is about 27 yrs, from my figuring), but there's so much that gets annoying after a while. Many of the start-up and running problems evolve from taking on a job (all the administration, advertising, as well as sometimes waiting tables, hosting, and making and selling pre-packaged goods) that she goes into without any training, and trying to do so much without having any kind of a money cushion in place. While her energy and drive is admirable--only a young person could keep up with her long hours and physical exertion on so little sleep--you can't help thinking that if they had waited to open the restaurant until they had a bit more preparation and savings, even the craziness of the restaurant world wouldn't be this harried.
Her references to wormy English muffins as a child, and the filthy, roach-infested restaurant she had worked in years earlier is more than you want to know (as well as her dirty home and clothes because there's no time for that), but her insider info on mark-up, menus, and more is very interesting.
I wish her and the chef all the best--and a chance to rest one of these days!

I read this book because the title jumped out at me, I too, am the wife of a chef. I do not run the restaurant with my husband but I can relate to almost all of her stories, while some people may think she is complaining, she is just telling it like it is. There is no glamour in being the chef's wife, we are not living out the food network dream here, folks. I actually sent her an e-mail thanking her for putting pen to paper. I thought it was wonderful that someone actually wrote a book about it (and had time to do so!!). If there is a chef in your family, or your spouse is a chef - then I would say its required reading. It might make a good disclaimer for chefs to hand out to potential dates as well-- girls, its not easy!!

I cannot believe some of the reviews that actually do not get this book and think the author is just a jealous whiner. This is just not the case. Her examination of life of a "chef's wife" is a very brutal and honest portrait of what it is like to be the one behind the creativity, the one who gets no credit, but handles everything besides the meal preperations. Without her role, which is central to the overall success of their restaurant Metro Bis, there would be no glory for her husband, "The Chef."

As the wife of a chef myself and co-owner of a restaurant with my husband, I completely relate to everything she says and find it in no way pouty, whiney or complaining. The reality is the business is tough, but it is twice as tough being the one who has to pull yourself and everyone else up by their bootstraps when everything is going wrong, fix it while playing shrink to everyone, and get none of the credit for it at the end of the day for anything.

After reading the book I emailed the author to tell her how much I enjoyed it. She took the time out of her busy schedule to personally answer me back which I think is another testimate to how attentive she is, not only to "the chef's" needs, her customers needs, her employee needs and just some stranger who happened to like her book.

As for the book this one has been compared to "Kitchen Confidentials," I enjoyed it much more because of its ability to relay the raw emotions of what happens in the restaurant business without all of the trash talk and vulgarity.

I owned a restaurant in rural Iowa with my husband from 1996-2000. He was the cook (didn't have chef's training, just a lot of experience, as did I). I so totally understand every single thing she writes. The working relationship did lead to a divorce, and I have my place back now. I can understand both sides of the coin.

I've done everything she has. Organization, prepping, cooking, ordering, scheduling, dealing with catastrophes, glitches, menus, bartending, anything. You name it, I've done it too. I've been laughing out loud alone to the point where I had tears in my eyes.

It's all the truth, I feel like I could have written this book. If you want to read about life behind a good restaurant, this is it. It's such an amazing book.

I give my best kudos out to her for not only writing it, but being able to deal with working for the chef. Her humor is amazing.

I, too, am the wife of a chef, and I, too, run the business with my husband, so this book appealed to me greatly. Courtney follows the day-to-day interactions and business happenings that make running a restaurant with your spouse *very* entertaining. Not only that, but she was thrown into it at a young age, just by being the wife of the chef, and has to learn new things about running the business every day.

I greatly identified with this book, and I send a big kudos to Courtney, and others in her shoes!

I once wanted to be a chef, later I fantasized about opening a bed and breakfast somewhere. I grew out of it but reading Wife of the Chef makes me glad I did. The restaurant business is a tough one and only the strong survive. The author talks about what it takes to get the business going and what goes into keeping it alive. Crazed waiters, drunken dishwashers, obnoxious diners are all part of the daily show. The pace that the author and her husband keep up is so tough that I got tired just thinking about it.

On the down side, Courtney some times comes off as being a bit too cranky and so much of a perfectionist that it must be very trying to work for her.

The best thing about this peek into the kitchen is the way that the husband, the chef was described. He's so endearing that I can overlook Courtney's apparently endless grouchiness with the rest of the world.

After the first few chapters I was angry more than anything. This young girl, who apparently doesn't drink - or eat - and without children to cart around or any other incumbrance, should have more of a sense of humor.

My husband and I also own and operate a restaurant, but I also maintain a full time job (which I had before we opened the restaurant), have a 17 year old son, work lunches and dinners and make all the desserts at the restaurant!! Oh, aren't I wonderful!

The writer needs to realize that we all work like dogs, but at the end of the day I sit down with a big glass of wine and realize how greatful I am for all of it!

As the wife of a cook, I thought I would like this book more. I heard of it in one of the many culinary magazines that my husband gets, and thought "there's someone I can relate to." Unfortunately (Fortunately?) I couldnt relate to Courtney Febbroriello at all. I felt that this book was written in a bitter tone, by a woman who is living vicariously through her husband. She complains her way through the whole book, yearning to be part of the kitchen, but never really belonging to the group. Shes also the most picky eater I have ever read- what was with the whole page devoted to making the ketchup based dip? I can tell you that being the wife (or husband) of the cook/chef isnt glamorous. Holidays dont exist. The working hours are strange. The cook comes home exhausted and smelly, usually with new open wounds and blisters. Courtney Fibbroriello just cant drop the woe is me attitude, and its grating. If you want to read a good book about the experience of a cook, read Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain. ...

This is one of those memoirs by someone who has an interesting story to tell, but who you might not actually want to know personally.

I felt the same way after reading A Walk Across France (fun idea, impossible couple) and yes, Kitchen Confidential. Without having read the blurbs for Wife of the Chef ahead of time, I found myself being reminded of Anthony Bourdain's book. And although I couldn't put Kitchen Confidential down, I wouldn't want to know Mr. Bourdain.

Febbroriello seems to have all her nerves on the outside. She is certain that people can't appreciate all the hard work she does. She is a finicky eater and is sensitive about people's reactions to that. She looks younger than her years and is offended when others want to do business with someone who looks a bit older. And she is working in what is still, for the most part (Chez Panisse, notwithstanding), a testosterone-rich profession. No wonder she comes across as a bit prickly.

Wife of the Chef moves along briskly and doesn't pull any punches. Febbroriello dishes the dirt on the customers, the restaurant staff, and herself. No one escapes, although the Chef does come out the least scathed.

I'd love to eat at her restaurant and I enjoyed reading her book, but I think I might find her just a little exhausting to be around. Even on her (admittedly rare) days off.

I thought it was a very good look at " A day in the life" even though I am sure that it is a lot more difficult than this. My wife will read this book some 6 months away from the time I leave my job to enter the CIA and then sounds like many things will fall into the same pattern as what the wife and chef are dealing with currently. I think this is a very good book and it holds nothing back. Great Job and I think they will have great success...Guy - WV