Out of Line: A Life of Playing with Fire by Lynch, Barbara

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Out of Line: A Life of Playing with Fire Hardcover – April 11, 2017

by Barbara Lynch (Author)

4.3 286 ratings

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Named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in the World

“If you have an appetite for culinary adventure, you’ll devour the feisty and fun memoir by James Beard award-winning chef and philanthropist Barbara Lynch.” —Elle

Blood, Bones, & Butter meets A Devil in the Kitchen in this funny, fierce, and poignant memoir by world-renowned chef, restaurateur, and Top Chef judge Barbara Lynch, recounting her rise from a hard-knocks South Boston childhood to culinary stardom.

Celebrated chef Barbara Lynch credits the defiant spirit of her upbringing in tough, poor “Southie,” a neighborhood ruled by the notorious Whitey Bulger gang, with helping her bluff her way into her first professional cooking jobs; develop a distinct culinary style through instinct and sheer moxie; then dare to found an empire of restaurants ranging from a casual but elegant “clam shack” to Boston’s epitome of modern haute cuisine.

One of seven children born to an overworked single mother, Lynch was raised in a housing project. She earned a daredevil reputation for boosting vehicles (even a city bus), petty theft, drinking and doing drugs, and narrowly escaping arrest—haunted all the while by a painful buried trauma.

Out of Line describes Lynch’s remarkable process of self-invention, including her encounters with colorful characters of the food world, and vividly evokes the magic of creation in the kitchen. It is also a love letter to South Boston and its vanishing culture, governed by Irish Catholic mothers and its own code of honor. Through her story, Lynch explores how the past—both what we strive to escape from and what we remain true to—can strengthen and expand who we are.

Print length

304 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Atria Books
Publication date

April 11, 2017
Dimensions

6 x 1 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

1476795444
ISBN-13

978-1476795447
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"If you have an appetite for culinary adventure, you'll devour the feisty and fun memoir by James Beard award-winning chef and philanthropist Barbara Lynch.” ― ELLE Magazine

"James Beard Award-winning chef Lynch, the owner of seven restaurants, has discussed BDSM with Julia Child and served mobsters such as Whitey Bulger in her native South Boston...Throughout the narrative Lynch is blunt and frank...But the broad strokes of Lynch's life are as fascinating as they are unique, and this memoir also details her role in changing the abusive, misogynistic world of fine cooking and her idiosyncratic approach to queer identity and marriage. Complete with 10 pages of recipes, this book is well worth any foodie's attention." ― Publishers Weekly

"Whenever she writes about food, her passion is evident, and she appends a number of recipes that will surely send some readers straight to the kitchen. A rugged tale of a self-made woman in a high-stress profession. " ― Kirkus Reviews

“Lynch’s love of food and hard scrabble Southie upbringing are blended into a rich and engaging narrative that sheds light on the different influences that helped shape her career. The narrative is evocative of Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential…Foodies will enjoy the vivid language used to describe Lynch’s food exploits, and old neighbors will be treated to a trip around south Boston through the eyes of a local.” ― Library Journal

"Barbara’s debut memoir is a funny but frank read that captures the fierce drive required to overcome challenges and triumph over adversities. Out of Line will serve as inspiration for young cooks to seasoned kitchen vets and everyone in between. A must read!" -- Eric Ripert, chef and author of 32 Yolks

"Lynch's life story struck me as a culinary take on A Tree Grows in Brooklyn; a poignant tale of rough streets and poverty navigated by a bright, sensitive child who never outgrew her love for the place that made her tough, tender and fearless." -- Kathleen Flinn, The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry and Burnt Toast Makes You Sing Good

"The rise and rise of Barbara Lynch is an extraordinary story told with wry humor and infinite compassion. Her journey from a hard-up childhood to accomplished chefdom is a compelling, real-life ode to the power of food." -- Yotam Ottolenghi

"If Barbara Lynch had a food truck, it would be called quenelles of steel. Barbara is a true friend and mentor (with a great sense of humor) who has paved the way for women in the culinary industry. Her heroic story inspires us to remain true to who we are and honor our dreams with conviction." -- Chef Ana Sortun

"Barbara Lynch is more than just one of our greatest chefs and restauranteurs--she is a force of nature who proves that unstoppable passion for doing what you love can make the world a better, happier and more delicious place. If anyone has ever told you your dream is impossible, read this book.” -- Paul Feig, Director of Bridesmaids, The Heat, and Spy

“This is a candid telling of how a devil-may-care attitude gave rise to one of the most powerful female restaurateurs in the country today.” ― BOOKPAGE

Included in “Every Spring 2017 Cookbook That Matters” ― Eater

"Her bubbly exuberance and drive dominate the story...few will be able to resist stories like the one of her conversation with the aging Julia Child about sex." ― BOOKLIST (Online)

About the Author

Barbara Lynch has won multiple James Beard awards, including Outstanding Restaurateur (only the second woman to win), an Amelia Earhart award for success as a woman in a male-dominated field, and the Relais & Château designation of Grand Chef (one of only six in North America). She is the owner of Barbara Lynch Gruppo, which encompasses seven celebrated restaurants, including No. 9 Park, B&G Oysters, Drink, Sportello, and Menton. Three of her restaurants are anchored in and have spurred the revitalization of South Boston, her lifelong home. In 2017, she was named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. Learn more at BarbaraLynch.com and follow her on Twitter @BarbaraLynchBOS.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Atria Books; First Edition (April 11, 2017)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1476795444
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1476795447
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #489,355 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #528 in Gastronomy Essays (Books)
- #532 in Culinary Biographies & Memoirs
- #1,697 in Celebrity & TV Show Cookbooks

Customer Reviews:
4.3 286 ratings

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4.3 out of 5

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Inspiring life story from a self-thought Culinary powerhouse.

Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2017

Verified Purchase

Barbara Lynch is an anomaly. Basically bootstrapping her way out of a tough upbringing in the hardscrabble section of South Boston---The Old Colony Housing Projects, and growing up to discover a passion of cooking---what would become her livelihood, and actually being really good at it. As a culinary arts professional myself in Boston (nowhere in her wheelhouse), I'd always been aware of Lynch and her talents and successes, so it was nice to read her own accounts of her life and career experiences; some great, but some not always good. I see some comments in the review section that they didn't care for the name dropping and constant references to being a "city rat." Well, people are entitled to their own impressions, but many don't realize that growing up in Boston---especially in "Southie" during Lynch's time, we take pride in our roots and whether they are fraught with negative memories or not, people still pride themselves on moving on from where they came from, improving their life and appreciating where their starting point was in life. This is one of those situations, and I for one appreciate the many references in and around the city. The name-dropping? If referring to Julia Child on more than a few occasions is an issue, then okay. Julia Child was a well-known food celebrity, but in Boston, she was a national treasure. Everyone who had a passion for cooking---man or woman---absolutely adored her. Meeting her at her party and sitting with her in conversation (as written in the book) had to have been a major coup for her. The criticisms mentioned by others don't bother me, and as a whole, I really enjoyed the book. It's interesting, informative and very heartfelt. Aspiring chefs should take note of the fact that Lynch is a self-taught chef, with no fancy and expensive training behind her. Armed with only her knowledge of her family recipes from childhood and a determined attitude, she went on to become an award-winning chef multiple times over, open several acclaimed restaurants, teach culinary classes which are always sold out, and so on and so forth. Her story is one that should inspire, no matter what your professional field is in life. While there is a wide-range of great biographies written by celebrity chefs, this is one that should be included with your collection of reading.

6 people found this helpful

One of the very best chefs' memoirs that I've read

Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2017

Verified Purchase

I have so much appreciation and admiration for Barbara Lynch after reading this book. I'm a "foodie" -- I know, of course, that that appellation has fallen into disfavor; however, it perfectly describes me. I'm not a "restaurantee." I'm just someone whose favorite sport is cooking. I love food. I love to watch "Top Chef" and "Iron Chef" re-runs while I'm spending hours in the kitchen cooking. Moreover, I'm positive that I've read every chef/kitchen memoir on the planet--that would be dozens. Although I lived in Greater Boston for many years, I was never fortunate enough to dine in any of Barbara's restaurants. Over the years, media made me aware that she had a smart mouth, was not classicly trained, and grew up in Southie. The NYT review referenced her "life's secrets," and I'll follow their discreet lead by just saying that several revelations that Barbara makes about her life are extraordinary. I was blown away not only by her remarkable story, but by the fact that she was willing to share these revelations with her readers. Most of all, this is a fascinating read about the incredible accomplishments--TWO James Beard awards!--that a chef, not classicaly trained, with what could accurately be called "more guts than experience, but plenty of brains" achieved. Not to mention "quenelles of steel." I know that her book will encourage many younger chefs. For me, this book takes its place in the highest tier of chef's memoirs.

21 people found this helpful

A Wicked Pissah with Quenelles of Steel

Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2017

Verified Purchase

I absolutely loved and devoured this book. There is much I can durectly relate to. Like a rough childhood, finding a love language in food and the therapeutic value of writing your story.
You could psychoanalyze Barbara Lynch from here to eternity. You could criticize her maybe for a lack of remorse over juvenile delinquent behavior, but you can not deny her the raw talent and sheer determination to succeed she posesses. She's one smart woman, a force to be reckoned with and passionate about educating and helping others on their path in the culinary world. The only negative I have to say is the editor should be fired. There are too msny grammatical errors. Even in the first recipe (see attached photo and read instructions on flour vs list of ingredients) I admire her greatly and bought two more copies of this book to give to friends and family.

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4 people found this helpful

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A Walk Down Memory Lane - at least for me!

Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2017

Verified Purchase

I was particularly interested in this book because I lived and worked in the Boston area for 23 years and knew of Lynch's reputation. I also heard her do a radio interview on NPR which whetted my appetite to read the book. I could easily place many of the locales in my mind's eye and had eaten at a number of her colleagues' restaurants. I found the book interesting in its brutal honesty, though could have done without quite so many f-bombs in the text. Obviously a book for gourmands, I found its "local interest" most appealing and thought the recipes at the end were an especially nice touch as well.

One person found this helpful

Funny, Inspiring & Honest

Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2017

Verified Purchase

Barbara Lynch's story is inspiring, laugh-out-loud funny and heart-wrenching. She paints a painstakingly honest portrait of her life, struggles and success in the restaurant business unapologetically interspersed with her youthful antics and adult challenges. As a former Boston restaurant worker I enjoyed hearing about some of the characters that I had known and found the author to be beyond gracious when telling stories about others but brutally honest when confronting her own challenges and foibles. She is an enormously talented woman who gives back to her community and inspires young people daily. And yet she's true to herself. A great read!

2 people found this helpful

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olga mazzoni

Vivere, sognare e cucinare. La realizzazione di un innato talento

Reviewed in Italy on December 2, 2022

Verified Purchase

Piacevole lettura. Barbara e’ una donna che ha raggiunto il firmamento in campo culinario, partendo da zero e senza titoli di studio. Di umili origini, trova il riscatto sociale ed economico grazie alla tenacia, all’impegno, all’umiltà’. Appassionante storia di vita oltre i fornelli. Bisogna poi andare a Boston ad assaggiare le sua creazioni gastronomiche in uno dei suoi 9 ristoranti. Consiglio vivamente la lettura di questa biografia, per imparare a vivere con gli altri e con se stessi.

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