Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise

Ruth Reichl, world-renowned food critic and editor in chief of Gourmet magazine, knows a thing or two about food. She also knows that as the most important food critic in the country, you need to be anonymous when reviewing some of the most high-profile establishments in the biggest restaurant town in the world?a charge she took very seriously, taking on the guise of a series of eccentric personalities. In Garlic and Sapphires, Reichl reveals the comic absurdity, artifice, and excellence to be found in the sumptuously appointed stages of the epicurean world and gives us?along with some of her favorite recipes and reviews?her remarkable reflections on how one?s outer appearance can influence one?s inner character, expectations, and appetites, not to mention the quality of service one receives. more

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From: Amazon
Posted: Oct-06-2009

Entirely satisfactory!

I loved everything about this book and I wish Ruth was a personal friend. The concept-- the meals, the disguises, the reviews following the visits and then the personal touch of the recipes included....what a fabulous gift. Ruth seems like a person who truly appreciates her good fortune in...

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From: Amazon
Posted: Sep-20-2009

Great read for "Foodies" and non-foodies alike

I'm a pretty die-hard "foodie" and I love to read books about food and travel (see some of my other reviews). This book was recommended to me by a friend, and I have to say I was skeptical at first because of the lack of "adventure" I assumed it would have. (How "adventurous was a book by the...

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From: Amazon
Posted: Jul-30-2009

Utterly contrived, badly written, self-righteous hypocrisy ... with recipes

After reading Tender at the Bone, I was looking forward to more of Ruth Reichl. Garlic and Sapphires was not only a disappointment, it was as if a completely different person had written it. It is ironic that in a book about disguises, Reichl herself was unrecognizable. Far from the funny,...

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From: Amazon
Posted: Jul-20-2009

Delicious reading

If you love food, you will love Garlic and Sapphires. Ruth Reichl, newly hired by the New York Times as restaurant critic and already well-known as the Los Angeles Times critic, determines that she needs to disguise herself to get non-critic meals and service. Masquerading as various...

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From: Amazon
Posted: May-01-2009

Foodies Delight!

If you love to read about or cook gourmet food this book is for you! Ruth R. is a delight to follow in her food adventures. In this book we get an inside view of her(my?)dream job - Restaurant/food critic for the New York Times!This story is about much more than just food, as she exposes some of...

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From: Amazon
Posted: Feb-25-2009

How I Got Through Jury Duty

I had half of this book left when I had to report for jury duty and, though my choice was unintentional, I could not have had a better companion to fill a day of waiting and boredom. When Ruth Reichl decided to become the restaurant critic for the New York Times, she had to give up a sunny,...

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From: Amazon
Posted: Feb-07-2009

A Really Good Read.

"New York is the centre of the American restaurant world." And a job at the New York Times as its new restaurant critic could potentially make nervous wrecks of anyone, never mind the new upstart from California, home of veggie burgers and tofu salads. But New York throws out the welcome mat....

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From: Amazon
Posted: Feb-06-2009

book review

This book was very entertaining, and the mind pictures that she creates from her descriptions are wonderful. The narrative of meals described while dining was so real that it made my mouth water to think of the tastes she was portraying. A very good book and quite funny. Looking at food and meals...

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From: Amazon
Posted: Jan-27-2009

Molly Hollis visits Le Cirque

Ruth Reichl explains the genesis for her disguised reviews. Her explanation of being asked to become the Times restaurant critic reveals New York to value intellect over comfort or beauty. She portrays herself as a little naive when the Times woos her for the job. We know she's smart; she can't...

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From: Amazon
Posted: Jan-23-2009

Dedicated to A Good Friend

I picked this book in honor of a good friend, Lauren Chapin, who was the Kansas City Stars Restaurant Critic, who suddenly passed away. She was an amazing person and loved by all who ever met her. This book made me feel closer to her and the book itself is humorous. Good reading. My hat off...

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