Wife of the Chef (Hardcover)

by Courtney Febbroriello (Author) "Today I am only half awake when I feel Chris kiss my cheek..." (more)
Key Phrases: line cook, most chefs, food memories, Metro Bis, New York, Beard House (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Courtney Febbroriello, the titular Wife of the Chef, tells all with acerbic wit in this exposé of life behind-the-scenes of a small Connecticut restaurant. But only the very secure should delve between the covers. Febbroriello tells how she met her husband, Chris, and shares a day in the life of the restaurant she now runs with him. It's a stressful job--it doesn't pay well, there are no benefits, they never get to spend any time together without talking about work, and no one appreciates her.

If you love to read about the restaurant trade, venture forth, but keep in mind that no one is spared Febbroriello's sharp tongue. If you've read Kitchen Confidential, none of the kitchen dirt will shock you (except maybe for the fact that she doesn't eat her husband's food because she's a vegetarian), but nearly everything else is fair game. According to Febbroriello, waiters don't get the respect they deserve, but then again many of them are slow, sloppy, don't anticipate her needs adequately, or are too friendly and helpful (come again?). Customers, admits Febbroriello, are the reason there are restaurants, but among those she hates are those who revere her husband (really?), those who want to relax, be pampered, and arrive with expectations (who isn't guilty?), and the ones who call themselves foodies.

Tired and cranky, overworked and never recognized, a Jill-of-all-trades and the glue that holds her restaurant together, Febbroriello's diatribe will make you laugh as long as it doesn't make you cry. --Leora Y. Bloom

From Publishers Weekly
In this window into the life of a chef's wife, Febbroriello challenges the stereotype of such women as pampered-she doesn't like exotic foods, is a vegetarian, subsists on potatoes and yogurt gulped down on the run. Febbroriello tires of hearing how wonderful it must be to be the wife of cook Christopher Prosperi of Metro Bis in Simsbury, Conn., and complains of condescending businessmen who assume they need to talk to her husband when she herself is part owner. She details the manic organizational demands of owning a restaurant, customer complaints, crowded lunches, a husband to whom every surface is a napkin; she even dishes out raunchy kitchen jokes. After her experience as Fry-O-Lator girl in a restaurant that allowed workers to pick up food that had fallen on a floor frequented by cockroaches, Febbroriello vowed never to eat out again-that is, until she became enamored of her husband-to-be and his passion for all things food. With chapter titles like "Combat Skills" and "The Rules of the Jungle," the book makes one wonder why anyone would want to be in this business. There is only passing mention of the rewarding customers and quirky regulars, and with only one recipe, there is more evidence of passion for bookkeeping than there is passion for food. However, those who have suffered the indignities and long hours of the restaurant business will appreciate her no-nonsense descriptions of the fierce competition for the best ingredients, wines and employees; the politics of reviewing; the financial woes; and the customers who can't make up their minds.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Clarkson Potter; 1 edition (January 7, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0609611062
• ISBN-13: 978-0609611067
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,289,918 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Tough Love, February 12, 2003

By A Customer

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!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars amen, sister!, October 2, 2004

By	Nancy J. Mcarthur "Nancy Jean" (Yonkers, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Wife of the Chef (Paperback)

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!!

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best I've read in ages, February 27, 2003

By	J. Best "janechef" (Napa Valley, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.