GARLIC AND SAPPHIRES is Ruth Reichl's riotous account of the many disguises she employs to dine anonymously. There is her stint as Molly Hollis, a frumpy blond with manicured nails and an off-beige Armani suit that Ruth takes on when reviewing Le Cirque. The result: her famous double review of the restaurant: first she ate there as Molly; and then as she was coddled and pampered on her visit there as Ruth, New York Times food critic. What is even more remarkable about Reichl's spy games is that as she takes on these various disguises, she finds herself changed not just superficially, but in character as well. She gives a remarkable account of how one's outer appearance can very much influence one's inner character, expectations, and appetites. As she writes, "Every restaurant is a theater . . . even the modest restaurants offer the opportunity to become someone else, at least for a little while." GARLIC AND SAPPHIRES is a reflection on personal identity and role playing in the decadent, epicurean theaters of the restaurant world.
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"Enjoyed very much learning about the trials and tribulations of not only bring a restaurant critic but also working for the New York Times. Reading about meals that I would never have dreamed existed and know I will never have the pleasure of eating was intriguing. I thought being a restaurant cretic would be a dream job bit now realize when you have to do it to make a living it can become drudgery. I keep wondering though...how did she not gain 400 lbs.?"
— Chris (4 out of 5 stars)
" Fun read! Interesting facts/observations about food critics. Reichl has a great sense of humor "
— Erocchio, 2/15/2014" took a while after finishing to appreciate the emotions described here. made me very hungry.... "
— Jocelyn, 2/15/2014" I really enjoyed this book about a critic from the NY Times. Parts are laugh-out-loud funny. Well-known, she adopts all sorts of disguises to go to restaurants undetected. The book is full of descriptions of food I've never had and probably never will, as well as some easy recipes. Fun read that makes you hungry. "
— Sarah, 2/11/2014" I really enjoyed this book but I must admit I flagged a little towards the end "
— Leonie, 2/8/2014" Satisfied the foodie in me but made me hungry the entire time. "
— Jen, 2/8/2014" Love her writing... This was as good as the first book I read by her, "Tender to the Bone" "
— Kirshoff, 1/25/2014" This book was absolutely delicious to read; it made me so hungry to read all of the descriptions of food! Also absolutely hilarious; I had not realized the lengths that some food critics go to in order to not be recognized. "
— Zoe, 1/24/2014" Ruth Reichl takes on disguises and totally new personas to review restaurants for the New York Times. She loses and finds herself on her way to becoming the editor of the now extinct Gourmet Magazine. Not sure I believe all the stories, but it was a fun read. "
— Sara, 1/19/2014" Great!! I read Reichl's other two autobiographical books before this, although this could be read by itself. Made me very hungry, although not any more inclined to visit upscale NYC restaurants. "
— Virginia, 1/8/2014" Listened to this in the car over spring break. The food descriptions were amazing and Mattie loved the disguises/characters. "
— Jomie, 12/24/2013Ruth Reichl is the New York Times bestselling author of novels, five memoirs, and the cookbook My Kitchen Year. She was editor in chief of Gourmet magazine and previously served as restaurant critic for the New York Times, as well as food editor and restaurant critic for the Los Angeles Times. She has been honored with six James Beard Awards, and in 2024, she received the James Beard Lifetime Achievement Award.
Bernadette Dunne is the winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and has twice been nominated for the prestigious Audie Award. She studied at the Royal National Theatre in London and the Studio Theater in Washington, DC, and has appeared at the Kennedy Center and off Broadway.