Restaurant Books

Saludos. Me interesa saber el costo del producto, franqueo (S&H), y modo de envío.

Es muy importante observar y verificar la dirección postal y/o residencial para que el envío correcto sea por correo postal (USPS) o mediante (UPS).

Gracias.

Roberto Cruz

Hope Was Here is one of the most refreshing and genuine books I've read in a long time. The story carries so many of the themes that interest and captivate today's teen culture, love, family, abandonment, loneliness, as well as an acknowledgment life's general unfairness. Bauer does something miraculous however; she incorporates these elements but she does not make the story center around them. The story is about Hope plain and simple. It is not a treatise on why mothers shouldn't leave their daughters, or a You've Got Mail brand love story, or a girl's search for her father, though a lesser author would have made the story about one, or, if they were particularly bad, all. It is nothing more or less than a peak into the life of one of the most interesting girls I know. (And I do know her after reading this book!)Hope Was Here is a spectacular piece of young adult literature.

Now, I don't understand why everybody seems to hate"Hope Was Here" so much. Was it because they were uneducated, it involved a mother who abandoned her, that it involved a nice man who died of cancer, or they just didn't like that there was a little bit of kissing in it? The only thing I didn't like about it was that it jumped around from subject to subject a bit, but not to much. Most kids who wrote the review for it seemed like they were quite a bit younger than me, like, 7 or 8, and maybe some of them were even boys, it is not a boy book, it is more of a girl book, if you know what I mean. AND this book is a young adult book, so now wonder they didn't like it. I would say that it is a great book for pre-teens, like me, and teens, girls. I think overall it was a GREAT book, it had some sad moments, but it was a good kind of sad. I loved it, and I highly recommend it for any girl 10-18.

Hope is a teenager living with her aunt. Her mother left her when she was just a baby, to continue her own life of waitressing and dating. Hope has never known her father, although she keeps hoping and believing that he will someday show up again in her life.

Hope's aunt Addie is an amazing cook who has traveled around the country with Hope, working at different diners and turning them into wonderful places to eat. Hope has become a proficient waitress and always manages to find a job working with her aunt.

At the last place they worked in New York City, the owner was a crook who ended up gaining their trust and then taking all of their money and disappearing. Hope and Addie are discouraged and have to find another place to work. This time they end up in a small town in Wisconsin. Hope isn't sure about this place--it seems too small, too unsophisticated for a person who has been living in New York. But the people seem nice and the diner is a good place to work.

The the owner of the diner, G.T. Stoop, decides to enter the town's race for mayor. The current mayor is corrupt and not doing anything to help the town. G.T. is respectable and honest and will do all that he can for the town's citizens. Unfortunately, he has leukemia and is losing strength. Will he be able to win, despite his illness, or will the corrupt mayor retain his hold on the town?

Hope and Addie were both admirable characters. They were very strong and determined and had learned how to be a family of two without being lonely. I liked the descriptions of being a waitress, too, They got across some of the good parts of working in a restaurant.

I thought that things in this story were resolved a bit too quickly, though. It was far too easy to fix all of this town's problems. The tactics of Millstone's committee were also over the top.

I would definitely recommend this book because, every night I would look forward to reading it. One night, I stayed up to ten o'clock reading because I kept turning the pages. In the story I connected to Hope the main character because, sometimes she thought that time would never pass. When she was waitressing, and she was in weeds (little help with a lot of hungry customers) she hopes that time will fly by. From this story, I learned that you could never know when your last moment will be, so enjoy your life to the fullest extent possible everyday.

I loved this book! It is always entertaining, at times heartbreakingly poignant, and very difficult to put down.

This book beautifully marries form and content. The book is J.R. Moehringer's autobiographical memoir, spanning from his elementary school years into young adulthood. Much of the book revolves around the hours Moehringer spent in a neighborhood bar on Long Island, trading stories and having friendly but impassioned arguments with the other barroom regulars. As you read the book, you almost feel like you're in the bar listening to the conversation. Each chapter is really a barroom story in itself; you can almost hear Moehringer, lubricated by a few drinks, sharing yet another anecdote from his life history.

Some of the stories Moehringer recounts seem too good to be true. Perhaps, like any good barroom raconteur, Moehringer embellishes a little for dramatic or comic effect. At first I wondered if the stories really were factual. By the end, I decided that I enjoyed the book even more for not being sure.

I don't drink much, have rarely been in bars, and have spent little time on Long Island. Nonetheless, I had no trouble inhabiting Moehringer's world.

I highly recommend this excellent memoir!

The less than 5 star reviewers are not understanding this story. JR's memoir is not about a bar, not about avoiding a life of achoholism, not about whining over misfortune, and not about overcomming childhood challenges. The real story here is sharing boldly and courageously what it is like to grow up fatherless. JR speaks for all of us men who grew up without fathers and his medium is great storytelling. While "growing up" we really were always searching for the right templates for manhood. We would grab ahold of anyone who paid attention! That could be good and that could be bad, but fortunatly for our author, the men at the bar were ultimately a good influence, not all of them as career path role models, but certainly as "man models" and that is what was needed. It is impossible (no criticism) for individuals who grew up with a father to empathize. This is not whining, it is just plain being honest and sharing what it is like. JR's memoir resonates with all of us "fatherless boys" and he must be reviewed from that perspective. For those of you who would like to know what goes through our minds and our orientation to the world, this is great primer/story. BRAVO JR.

I enjoyed reading this book, especially when J.R. talks about the book he wanted to write, especially the chapter in which J.R. includes a number of anecdotes & jokes he meant to include in the book he imagined. I enjoyed the process aspect of this book--the process through which we see Moehringer realize his insecurities and identify his alcoholism, problems with women, and the role the bar plays in his life. It's a little bit like watching someone you care about grow up.

As someone who primarily reads fiction--and much of it adolescent lit due to my career--I found this memoir fascinating to read and thoroughly engaging. The men in JR's life are quite the collection of characters (as are his many family members), and their stories kept me entertained as much as--or even more so--than some of the fiction I've recently read. I cared about JR and his conflicts, and not once was I bored or let down by his storytelling. This was a great book, one that could be put down and picked up again easily, and one that left me thinking about the author and the course his life has taken. I definitely recommend this!

Unbeleivably honest and extremely inspiring. Despite of what he has been through, he is now a successful journalist and a Pulitzer Prize winner. What is ironic is that his book ended up on the NY Times bestseller list. It is as if Moehringer is sticking his tongue out to the senior editors who previously declared him as "non NY Times material". It is a lesson in perseverance and endurance. One should always keep trying and never give up.

Very, very interesting book. It will make you experience every emotion. She will have you laughing, crying and sometimes both at the same time. I already read the book. I got this one as a gift for my mother.

Paula Deen, I just love you girl. You are amazing. I love your family too, and I am so glad you found your "neighbor." Thanks for writing your story. You are a living inspiration to anyone down on their luck. Just look how things can turn around if you keep a positive outlook and aren't afraid of hard work. (You did have a lot of luck too, I might add, and that really keeps the reader hooked.) Thanks for sharing all the pictures, too.

Honestly, this is one heck of a book! Paula Deen is obviously human, full of mistakes and regrets, but ultimately, more than all of that, she is a woman full of strength, loyalty and sheer determination! Reading this book was at times, tough, few people are as candidly honest as Paula is, but truthfully, it just made me respect her more! Her truthfullness is un-apologetic and real, and very hard to find now a days! She makes it clear that she's far from perfect, a risk-taker and not always so nice; she cusses and demands a lot of herself and those around her, a shrewd business woman she is! However, after reading this book, I admire her more; for her strength, her honesty, her genuine regrets about her life (we ALL have them) and her love of food and family! She is an inspiration for any of us who have not always done or said the right thing, but risen above it all in the long run! I think the success and happiness she has today was well-earned and very deserved! I would reccomend this book most definately, just keep an open mind and don't expect a water-downed, sugar coated version of her life...but hey, honesty from the any star themselves is like a breath of fresh air! I'm glad Paula shared her story and it's one I'll reccomend and remmeber for a long time to come!

Paula Deen Is One Of My Absolute Favorites On The Food Network.I Have Several Of Her Cook Books,And I Enjoy Watching Her Show.Her Personality Is One In A Million. So Down Home & Warm.Her Openness,Being Frank,Along With Having Fun Cooking A Recipe,She's Always Laughing,And Her Southern Draw,i Love It !! She Opens Up About Her Life & Family In It Aint All About The Cookin.She's Definately One I'd Give Anything To Meet,And Share A Recipe Or 2 And Cook With In The Kitchen.It Aint All About The Cookin Is A Great Read And Well Worth Your Time Reading It.

I am not the type of person who enjoys biographies/autobiographies. I bought this book because I am a fan of Paula Deen's and thought that it would be an interesting read.

I love this book. I cannot help but smile at her honesty and wit. The book is written in the true Paula style- you can almost hear that gorgeous Southern accent shine through the words on the page. She includes recipes at the end of every chapter and simply reading them will make your mouth water!

What I enjoy most about this book is that she is so human. She did not come from a rich family who gave her everything. She had to work, really work, for what she has today. She has strength, determination, and a will that accomplished her and brought her to where she is today. Life was not always peaches and roses for her and she reflects upon the bad times with humor. While she has certainly done things in the past that she regrets (we could all right a book on our own experiences!) anyone reading this book will be inspired. What is your dream? What is holding you back? Read this book and you will learn that your only boundaries are the ones you are placing on yourself.

I highly recommend this book. She notes in the beginning that she thought people would not like her or not respect her as much. After reading this book, I like her and respect her even more. She becomes more of a person vs a TV icon.

By the way, there are some juicy parts in this book, but told with the honesty and hint of naughtiness that Ms. Deen is know for!

Viva la Paula!

I just finished this book and I must say I was surprised. It was very good. My initial worry was that it would be fluffy, but the portrait of Jesus struck the right balance between his being compassionate and winsome on the one hand, but far from passive or a push-over on the other. It was enjoyable to the end. If I have friends who wonder what a conversation with Jesus would be like or are seeking to find out more about Christianity in a non-threatening way; Dinner with a Perfect Stranger will be at the top of the list!

Welcome to College: A Christ-Follower's Guide for the Journey

This book is an easy read! The book basically takes place during a 4-course meal in a restaurant. The over-ambitious husband feeling failure in his marriage and life gets invited to dinner by Jesus. The dialogue is very simple and easy to get. It's a story of hope and inspiration! Excellent book for non-believers & believers!! I recommend it as a MUST READ. A+++++++++++

I have the honor of keeping up with college students and military in our church. Our pastor recommended this book and loaned me his own copy to read. It was easy reading and so interesting that I purchased 10 copies to send to my college students along with their Easter package. From choosing the nicest restaurant (wouldn't he want the best for his followers?) to giving good advice to his guest and taking a moment to notice those serving Him, this writer managed to give the reader a nice warm feeling about what it might be like to have dinner with Jesus.

Absolutely FANTASTIC. Simply written. I've purchased several and pass them to friends. Wonderful, wonderful book.

Trite, predictable, uninteresting, unchallenging, and more. A peculiar little book that did nothing for my faith. I want something that stretches or even challenges. This appeared to be narrow, party propaganda. Perhaps, however, this is for someone who has never heard of Christianity. I am also troubled at the numbers who raved about this book. That fact, to me, is a sorry commentary on the depth of Christianity in America. St. Paul indicated that, "When I was a child, I thought like a child." Now that I am a man, I need something more.

I highly recommend this book to all new entrepreneurs and those interested in learning how successful companies are formed. I also know there are alot of people out there who hate Starbucks simply because it exists and succeeded- I challenge you to read this book. The business was created from the ground up by passion and perseverence, and it deserved to succeed, and I hope it continues to succeed for a very long time.

I found this book extremely interesting from a business perspective. Would recommend this book to anyone who is starting a business or has an interest in finance. Very inspirational

I read many company books. This is one of the gems. Howard did a fantastic job in writing the history of Starbucks, its root, its spirit, and its amazing achievement.

There have been many coffee vendors. Starbucks sprinted from the pack. It actually revolutionized the coffee industry. While the business world has been looking for the next new hi-tech inventions, Howard creatively rejuvenated the coffee drinks by relentlessly pursuing the quality the culture and the experience. He did the mission-impossible in such a traditional industry. After reading this book, you will never look at Starbucks the same way. Yes, you realize that passion and quality can make a huge difference in this crowded world.

"If you pour your heart into your work, or into any worthy enterprise, you can achieve dreams others may think impossible." ~ Howard Schultz

When Howard Schultz found Starbucks he had a dream of all Starbucks could be. After bringing back ideas from Milan he planned to infuse the company with a new energy. Instead of only selling coffee beans he wanted to open stores that sold espresso. When the owners of Starbucks didn't have the same vision, he opened up his own stores and then purchased Starbucks. The story is compelling and this book is one of the most exciting books on business I've ever read.

"Without the romance of Italian espresso, Starbucks would still be what it was, a beloved local coffee bean store in Seattle." ~ pg. 53

This book explains why franchising is a forbidden word at Starbucks. It also explains how special packaging had to be made to keep the coffee fresh. Stock options and an impressive health-care package also make working for Starbucks a positive experience.

While Howard Schultz's own story is woven into the pages, this book is mostly about the positive steps that were taken to make Starbucks a success. This book will appeal to anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit.

My own experience with Starbucks has been very positive. Once a reporter talked to me on the phone while he was at a Starbucks. My family loves buying Starbucks gift cards and we always make time to go to a Starbucks whenever we get together. It is like a family tradition. Yesterday I was at my local Starbucks drinking a tall chai tea and discovered they had the most delicious vanilla scones with icing. The girl at the counter told me she thought they tasted like sugar cookies and I must agree.

If you are looking for another book about Starbucks, I can
recommend: Starbucks Passion for Coffee

~The Rebecca Review

P.S. The proceeds from this book go to the Starbucks Foundation to support literacy programs.

This is not a business book, it is the history of a company. Howard Schultz recounts the early years of Starbucks diving into the rich tale of how a small coffee roasting company quickly became a world-wide brand recognized for quality, service and responsibility. Filled with interesting details about Schultz's journey to the original Starbucks (roasting and selling beans only), to Il Giornale (Schultz's first attempt at recreating an Italian espresso bar in America) and finally to the Starbucks we now know, placing both elements together, "Pour Your Heart Into It," gives us a glimpse into the restless journey of an entrepreneur.

Schultz goes into detail explaining the challenges behind creating not only a product, but a market. In the early years, the coffee shop boom had not yet occurred in America meaning part of Starbucks mission had to become educating potential customers on the joys of high-quality coffee. Setting out to build a great brand was secondary to Schultz who's first aim was to build a great company.

"When I looked back, I realized we had fashioned a brand in a way no business-school textbook could have ever prescribed. We built the Starbucks brand first with our people, not with consumers-the opposite approach from that of the crackers-and-cereal companies. Because we believed the best way to meet and exceed the expectations of the customers was to hire and train great people, we invested in employees who were zealous about good coffee." - pg. 245

All of us need a break from the bullet-format, bumper sticker business books that permeate the bestseller charts these days...something that will bring us back to why we even do business in the first place. This is that book. No catchy phrases or lists, just a story of how a few guys with a love for coffee decided to help the world catch their heart.

A quick, fun read which left an indelible impression on my mind's eye. I think about the Restaurant itself frequently and hope I can visit it at some point in the future.

Intolerably funny. But if you thought you could get away with Douglas Adams without thinking about the Big Questions in life, no such luck! While putting mortality 2 million years out is a great way to soften the blow, the question is still, "OK, you got a life for a little while, whatta ya gonna do about it?"

Review of
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
By Mid-Prairie Teen


Arthur Dent, Trillian (the last humans in the universe), Marvin (a depressed robot), Ford Perfect (Dent's Friend), and Zaphood Bebblebrox (ex-hippie, ex- galactic president) are in for another crazy wacky adventure. After the explosion of the black ship and the separating of the friends, we rejoin Arthur on Earth 2.0. His friend Ford is no where around and he decide to go mad and he thinks he sees Ford over him. "I tried that," stated Ford, "but I discovered that one must not decide to go mad, but to decide to let him be overcome by insanity."
Is this the real Ford Perfect, do the friends ever reunite, do they ever learn to fly, and will Zaphood ever find his soul? So many questions that may, or may not, are answered as you read.
This is not a book for those who need to understand a book to enjoy it. If one tries their head would probably explode. This book is for the people who read a book for other reasons. The insanely loopy paths this book takes and the reversed, jumbled, nonsense words make this book purely hilarious. Douglas Adams my have outdone himself with this book, the craziness in this book is so well sloped together that he has mad a wok of art.
This book has draw backs of course; the share of mild language, sexual jokes, and religious mockery makes it unsuitable for young readers. But other than that it is a great book for most readers.

Warning:
Attempted understanding of this book may cause serious damage to your mind. Cases of head explosions and mental shutdown have been noted.
Read with caution!!

This, the second book in the The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy science fiction comedy series, continues the humerous story in the same fast passed tempo as the first one.

We are thrown right into a drama where a Vogon spaceship is trying to blow up the heart of gold, the fabulous space ship that Zaphod stoled during his time as president of the galaxy. As it turns out Zaphod had locked up parts of his brain prior to becoming president and a good deal of this book deals with him trying to recover this hidden memory. At one point Zaphod even getts caught up in a spaceship that has been delayed for departure, due to missing paper napkins, for 400 years. After many twists and turns we end up at the restaurant at the end of the universe. With the ever unlucky Marvin, due to a mishap in time travel, having to actually wait until the end of the universe (several million years) for the others to turn up.

At the restaurant, they steal a funky black spaceship which, as it later turns out, is destined to crash into a Sun during a interstellar rock concert. They eventually rescue them self by using a malfunctioned teleport, which unfortunately hurls everyone uncontrollably through out space. Zaphod and Trillian eventually ends up at the real president of the universe, meanwhile Ford and Artur are stranded in a space ship filled with management consultants, hairdressers and telephone sanitizers. Eventually they crashes on prehistoric earth, where its original inhabitants quickly goes extinct, but alas the crew of the spaceship survives and quickly call earth their new home.

As in the first book you find yourself laughing out loud at least once on every page. The humor is intelligent, subtle and extremely bizarre - eventually you end up racing through it, just to get to the next kick and yet it is still a well composed book containing a great story. In short a highly recommended page turner.

After enjoying both the book and the movie, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, I decided that I absolutely, positively and at all costs read the other books in Douglas Adams hilarious trilogy in five parts.
When we left Zaphod, Ford, Trillian, Arthur, and Marvin, they were on their way for a meal at the Restaurant at the End of the Universe. Now, the five are being attacked by Vogons trying to finish the extermination of the human race (due to orders given them). The five escape, but end up separated. Zaphod lands near the office of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and suddenly begins to remember things that he had buried before becoming president--the steps to who rules the universe and who may be able to provide the Ultimate Question to the Ultimate Answer of Life, the Universe, and Everything.

Good:
Douglas Adams' sense of humor is what really shines in this book. He is adept at creating comical situations, playing on stereotypes and providing a humorous outlet. For example, he satirizes middle-men (i.e. hairdressers, management, etc.) when the middle-men of a certain culture are tricked to leave their planet, leaving behind all the smart people and all the people who do the work the smart people demand.
Furthermore, Douglas Adams bucks the system of creating admirable heroes and heroines. Zaphod is a selfish moron, more interested in being well-fed than other lives (and who doesn't think twice about stealing); Ford is (generally) a spineless hitchhiker. Arthur desires only to have a nice cup of tea, and Trillian doesn't necessarily stick her neck out for anyone else (although she was not very prominent in the book so it would be hard to say).
The story is smart and interesting, with twists and turns that no one would expect. Also, Adams intertwines science in it at appropriate places to make it sound convincing while refusing to let it bog down his story. I enjoyed how it was easy to read and quick as well.

Bad:
The story at times seems to exist mainly to show outrageous situations and make satirical remarks about society. I haven't read the whole series, so I can't quite say if these events make a difference later on, but going from being attacked to talking to a dead man to being transported to a distant planet to being carried from that planet in a building to another planet just makes me want to take a break and nap (and this is only less than halfway through the book!).
Sometimes I felt that the book went by too quickly and ended too abruptly. I won't completely blame the book as several sequels have this element (Empire Strikes Back comes instantly to mind). Also, Trillian and Marvin do not play as much of a role in this one.

Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
Primarily British invectives, like "bloody".
Girlfriends are mentioned along with Zaphod's desire to be on the beach with 50 beautiful women.
People die during a planet crash. Officers carry guns. Other than that, the violence is rather minimal.

Overall:
There is so much to like about this book that it almost totally eclipses what may be considered "bad". Douglas Adams' writing style is so clean and so hysterically funny that I can easily forgive the rather outrageous plot and the brisk pace. Definitely, if you liked Hitchhiker's, you will enjoy Restaurant.

This is book is amazing. It came just as described and shipping was on time. I'm so glad that it was all wrapped up as promised in the original plastic seal.

Beautiful in its design, photography, inspirational story telling and food. There is wonderful attention to detail and accuracy in terms of the recipes and methods. A timeless classic from one of the world's best.

Keller steps out and does something amazing with this book. An absolute pleasure to read and learn new ideas from.

even tho i dont cook much, i love giving this gorgeous gift as a special wedding birhday xmas gift. its beautiful on a table, to savored and appreciated as art to eat. and i do love to eat. great combined with some fun kitchen item, gorgeous french towels, cake server or plate, wonderful serving bowl or plate. we are blessed to be able to have chef keller sign ours, an even more special gift

Physically speaking, "The French Laundry Cookbook" is dense, somewhat cumbersome, and teetering on intimidating--it will surely be the largest cookbook you'll ever own, and the statement is clear; this is not a cookbook for amateurs. On the contrary, this is a dense, meticulously-structured culinary opera aimed at those courageous enough to attempt to recreate 4-star dishes out of the home kitchen. Visually, the cookbook features countless, beautiful, full-page photographs of food so perfectly conceived that it comes off as easy, although once you read through any one recipe, you're sure to realize the difference between fantasy and reality. Keller is quite obviously a food perfectionist, and takes every extra step, every precaution, every effort, to make every component of every dish as flawless as possible. If this sounds like your cup o' tea, then you should order this cookbook with no delay. Granted, some recipes are on the easier side, but that's on the French Laundry spectrum, where easy is still more difficult than what you're probably used to. On the opposite end of the spectrum, this cookbook features recipes that, despite Keller's obvious and applaudable efforts to make his masterworks' a possibility for the at-home chef, are nearly impossible to pull-off, unless you have skill, patience, and around 4 days with nothing else to do.

If you're very serious about cooking and want to take the difficulty level up quite a bit, then consider this cookbook. Every recipe you complete will make you a more well-rounded, knowledgeable cook, and that's the bottom line--this cookbook is like a portable culinary school. Just be aware that unless you go into the cooking process dedicated, patient, and determined, frustration could take over and the dish might not be worth the effort. If done right, some of the dishes in this cookbook, from sight to taste, are simply stunning, and like nothing else out there.

I chose two recipes out of this cookbook -- a Mexican chicken and rice dish and a Greek pasta casserole. The Mexican chicken and rice dish was so spicy, it was unpleasant! The Greek dish had the opposite problem -- it was incredibly bland. Neither one was inedible, but it wasn't anything I'd ever cook again.

I guess I'm in the minority -- I was super unimpressed. My family picked at both meals, and refused to eat the leftovers.

This recipe has all kinds of great recipes. When I started dieting, I was disappointed that I had to give up several of my favorite asian and italian recipes. This great cookbook has several healthy versions of these recipes including general tso's chicken and orange spicy beef.

My only complaint is that the binding for the book isn't good, and pages started falling out almost as soon as I got the book. Maybe I got a defective book, though. Why do they make cookbooks with anything other than spiral binders anyway?

I was hoping that this cookbook had more traditional american take-out recipes, but was disappointed to see too many exotic recipes for my taste.

Easy recipes and most use everyday ingredients. Taste so good even my kids like it, especially skinny chimi's and brocolli beef.

I was really excited about this getting this book, but I have to say it is not my favorite. First, after using the book just a few times, the binding has cracked - one of the reasons I prefer the binder style cookbook. Also, one of the most common reasons I get take out is because its quick. None of these recipes are really quick. You can also find many of these recipes in other ww cookbooks. Since I got it for such a great price, its not that big of a deal, but there are definately better weight watchers or healthy cooking cookbooks to choose from.

The story begins in a pre-Katrina New Orleans with two out of work line cooks sitting in a tree while getting drunk. I found this book to be a big departure from Brite's earlier gore and sex-laced work. It's more of a day by day look at two struggling folks trying to make their way in the world.

The two out of work drunkards concoct a business idea that might actually work out, a liquor based gourmet restaurant. The book mainly concerns these two, their offbeat acquaintances and the trials and tribulations of starting a business from the bottom up. It was a good foodie read but I have to admit that I greatly miss the old over-the-top Poppy Z. Brite of days gone by.

I really enjoyed Liquor, and look forward to purchasing some more writings about Rickey and G-Man, and their fabulous themed restaurant Liquor.

I first started reading Poppy's works when I began working at The Hellfire Club in Sydney. Her darker themes delighted me, and I found them page-turners.

Funnily enough, as she has moved on to food related stuff, so have I, becoming a dining reviewer. So it seems only appropriate that I continue my journey with her works reminding me of the behind-the-scenes story of the places I review - to take care, and to realise it is the passion, heart and soul of many chefs.

Thank you Poppy... I only wish I could eat at Liquor!

I have been reading Brite's blog for ages and for some reason I just kept putting off reading the Liquor books (at that time only Liquor and Prime). I have no idea why, I did like her early work, but like her I've outgrown that genre as well so it's not like I wanted to keep reading that kind of book from her.

I finally got over it and bought the dang book, and you know what, from that first page it was like I was home. I used to live in New Orleans (no I'm not from there, there is a difference) and I love and miss it. The minute I started reading Liquor it was like I was back there, Ricky and G-man were like old friends, probably because I had many friends who worked in kitchens across the city. It hooked me, and I'm still hooked by the characters, New Orleans, and most definitely the food.

I sincerely hope that Brite gives us more of these characters, but I definitely won't hold it against her if she doesn't because I'm happy to have been able to visit them at all.

I picked up this book because I didn't have anything else to read and it was on sale. Although it doesn't follow Brites' normal horror direction, I found myself loving this book. It's a quick read, which I am not always a fan of, but the book is simply too good to hold that against it.
The characters are well developed and you find yourself wanting to warn them about what's to come. Although I know little about restaurants except hanging out in whatever bar my father worked at when I was young and a brief stint in the food court in high school; I wanted to be in these kitchens.
Give it a shot, I bet you'd love it.

This was a fantastic read. I devoured it after a 10-hour drive; that should tell you what I thought about its readability.

The food writing is as enthusiastic as anything Ruth Reichl has written. The plot, though not the book's most memorable element, moves along and contains enough "special moments" - be they tender, exciting, or delicious - to make the novel a real success. It is fitting that the book contains a dedication to John Kennedy Toole (author of A Confederacy of Dunces), as Liquor also pays loving homage to New Orleans.

Although characters could have been more carefully drawn in places, Liquor was just too darned enjoyable for anything but five stars. I'm anxious to see how the characters grow in later books.

The Blanchards have done what a lot of us dream of doing: a fun job without bosses in a fun country with fantastic weather--at least in season! Aside from providing a thoroughly enjoyable account of their move to Anguilla, the book is also a passionate description of how one can make a dream come true, and with not that much money at all. Having said that, their repeated references to the Anguillan "paradise" maybe a bit excessive when one considers the horrible red-tape, vicious hurricanes and logistic nightmares they had to deal with. But perhaps that is what makes this book really excellent: it is a realistic view of the pros and cons of the Blanchards' choice, devoid of sticky romanticism and with no trace whatsoever of the smugness and superiority complexes one often finds in writers who move to a foreign country and tell their story.

This book is very well written, and even better it is true about the island life. My husband and I moved to Anguilla (not because of the book but for a job offer) and when I read the book, I was amazed at how well the Blanchards made it a reality. The book is wonderful and the island is even better, if you get a chance to travel to Anguilla, you should.

This book made me want to quit my job and move to the islands. I love the first-hand view of how difficult that really is when there's no major shopping options or supplies for miles. I can't wait to buy the Blanchard cookbook -- they are true pros!

This was a great book to escape to. If you love cooking and the beach, then this book is for you. Mel shares recipes, tells the tales of changing lifestyles, and paints an incredible picture of the island. I am ready to go pack and have dinner at Blanchards!

If you have ever been cornered by an innkeeper or B & B owner whose life contains five minutes of interesting tidbits, but who takes two hours dragging you through a poorly synthesized tale, you've already had the experience of reading this book. To make matters worse, the quality of writing and tone are comparable to a sixth grade essay along the lines of "What I Did on My Summer Vacation."
If you are looking for an interesting book about life as an American in the Caribbean, try Herman Wouk's semi-fictional "Don't Stop the Carnival."