What goes on behind the scenes of fancy restaurants? Your Table is Ready: Tales of a NYC Maitre D' by Michael Cecchi-Azzolina is an eye-opening rollicking reveal of the restaurant world.
Raoul's in SoHo, River Cafe, Le Coucou - all fancy NYC restaurants where the glamorous, the rich, the royal, and the wanna be go to be seen. Michael Cecchi-Azzolina takes us on his journey as he worked his way up to the big bucks as a maitre d'.
cover blurb - He breaks down how restaurants really run (and don't), and how the economics work for owners and overworked staff. It's a show, it's a brawl, it's a tough world dealing with an entitled public.
This book covers a heyday of excess - drugs, alcohol, and money changing hands. Party all night long and start over the next day. The author does write about how things needed to change and still do need to change for wage earners. Your Table is Ready is a fascinating read and the author has a wry sense of humor. He lived to tell quite a tale.
I wouldn't own a restaurant for anything in the world. I've watched enough episodes of Restaurant Impossible to know it's a pain and a good way to lose money.
ReplyDeleteI agree but I do find memoirs like this fascinating. Anthony Bourdain first opened my eyes to this whole world. Stressful and wild life
DeleteHi Joanne - I'd like to read this - always interesting - history of the time, as well as food - sounds good to me - cheers Hilary
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