Heat: An Amateur's Adventures as Kitchen Slave, Line Cook, Pasta-Maker, and Apprentice to a Dante-Quoting Butcher in Tuscany

Secondly, the book is a long overdue portrait of the real Mario Batali and of the real Marco Pierre White--two complicated and brilliant chefs whose coverage in the press--while appropriately fawning--has never described them in their fully debauched, delightful glory. Buford has--for the first time--managed to explain White's peculiar--almost freakish brilliance--while humanizing a man known for terrorizing cooks, customers (and Batali). As for Mario--he is finally revealed for the Falstaffian, larger than life, mercurial, frighteningly intelligent chef/enterpreneur he really is. No small accomplishment. Other cooks, chefs, butchers, artisans and restaurant lifers are described with similar insight.

Thirdly, Heat reveals a dead-on understanding--rare among non-chef writers--of the pleasures of "making" food; the real human cost, the real requirements and the real adrenelin-rush-inducing pleasures of cranking out hundreds of high quality meals. One is left with a truly unique appreciation of not only what is truly good about food--but as importantly, who cooks--and why. I can't think of another book which takes such an unsparing, uncompromising and ultimately thrilling look at the quest for culinary excellence. Heat brims with fascinating observations on cooking, incredible characters, useful discourse and argument-ending arcania. I read my copy and immediately started reading it again. It's going right in between Orwell's Down and Out in Paris and London and Zola's The Belly of Paris on my bookshelf. --Anthony Bourdain

Book Description

Bill Buford—author of the highly acclaimed best-selling Among the Thugs—had long thought of himself as a reasonably comfortable cook when in 2002 he finally decided to answer a question that had nagged him every time he prepared a meal: What kind of cook could he be if he worked in a professional kitchen? When the opportunity arose to train in the kitchen of Mario Batali’s three-star New York restaurant, Babbo, Buford grabbed it. Heat is the chronicle—sharp, funny, wonderfully exuberant—of his time spent as Batali’s “slave” and of his far-flung apprenticeships with culinary masters in Italy.

In a fast-paced, candid narrative, Buford describes the frenetic experience of working in Babbo’s kitchen: the trials and errors (and more errors), humiliations and hopes, disappointments and triumphs as he worked his way up the ladder from slave to cook. He talks about his relationships with his kitchen colleagues and with the larger-than-life, hard-living Batali, whose story he learns as their friendship grows through (and sometimes despite) kitchen encounters and after-work all-nighters.

Buford takes us to the restaurant in a remote Appennine village where Batali first apprenticed in Italy and where Buford learns the intricacies of handmade pasta . . . the hill town in Chianti where he is tutored in the art of butchery by Italy’s most famous butcher, a man who insists that his meat is an expression of the Italian soul . . . to London, where he is instructed in the preparation of game by Marco Pierre White, one of England’s most celebrated (or perhaps notorious) chefs. And throughout, we follow the thread of Buford’s fascinating reflections on food as a bearer of culture, on the history and development of a few special dishes (Is the shape of tortellini really based on a woman’s navel? And just what is a short rib?), and on the what and why of the foods we eat today.

Heat is a marvelous hybrid: a richly evocative memoir of Buford’s kitchen adventure, the story of Batali’s amazing rise to culinary (and extra-culinary) fame, a dazzling behind-the-scenes look at the workings of a famous restaurant, and an illuminating exploration of why food matters.

It is a book to delight in—and to savor.

Customer Reviews:

Fun, fun fun in the bowels of the kitchen.......2007-10-12

I read Bourdain's book and loved it. I also liked this one. Raw, honest talk from someone who has been there.
The autobiography part was fascinating (can such characters really populate elite restaurants!?) and the lowdown on furiously making food night after night was priceless. The last section was too blah blah about Mario Batali, although the scenes of Italy were intriguing. A must read for real food lovers.

A humorous read that made me hungry!.......2007-10-07

Who wouldn't want to go on Buford's journey? He's a great tour guide on his gasto-tour of the kitchens of the Mario Batali and Pierre Marco White. He shows that kitchens can be places that are filled with potential dangers and loads of passion. It took me awhile to get through this book, in part because I kept getting hungry and had to go make something to eat! I'm ready to go clamp the pasta machine to the counter and whip up some fresh pasta.

It's a pretty dense book to get through, and the author wanders away from the main story often. Most of the time, it's to an interesting place, but sometimes, it's just a tangent. But aside from a few of those as a distraction, I thought this was a great book.

Interesting but not what I thought it was going to be.......2007-09-19

I got this book because my husband heard an interview on the radio and thought I would like it since I love to cook. It was interesting but spent too much time, for me, on the politics of working in a restaurant kitchen and not enough on the workings of food in a restaurant. I bored with the personalities and gave up trying to figure out who was who.

I think I made the pages soggy..........2007-09-17

This guy, Bill Buford, is pretty amazing. Despite the danger of slicing off his hands entirely (an accident that he somehow manages to repeat) under various huge, sharp, professional knives, he insisted going (back again and again) to Italy to learn about things so obscure even professional chefs wouldn't have much idea about.
If you're looking for a book about Batali, this isn't the most comprehensive one, but it's scathingly honest and if you really live and breathe food, you'll gain a whole lot more than goss about the inner workings of Batali's businesses. It gets a bit soppy at times - a bit too "Tuscany is beautiful, and Provence is the ultimate foodie heaven", but only fleetingly, and all can be forgiven once you read about the author's hilarious effort to cook a whole pig...

ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......2007-09-11

The chapters on Mario Batali and the dynamics of his kitchen were really interesting and engaging. I was intrigud by the sections on Marco Pierre White as I had just read Gordon Ramsey's autobiography in which his tempestuous relationship with White plays a significant role. The rest of Buford's book is just too tediously, self-indulgently written to the point where it killed my interest in the underlying subjects of pasta making and butchery (I ended up skimming page after page as I just couldn't take it). It reminded me of a computer spitting forth every bit of information in its memory regardless of relevance or interest. Just too many tedious, boorish details.

Average customer rating:

small town texas review
Great tastes here!
Exact Replica of 'Secrets'
Great cookbook
Gordon Ramsay Cookbook

In the Heat of the Kitchen
Gordon Ramsay
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Professional | Professional Cooking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Gordon Ramsay Cookbooks | Stores | Books

ASIN: 0764588346

Amazon.com

New York City Cookbooks from Wiley
New York is one of the world's great food cities; it is also one of the most culinarily diverse. Check out these great cookbooks from some of the stars of the New York food scene, as they make their great recipes accessible to the home cook.

Fiamma: The Essence of Contemporary Italian Cooking
A contemporary spin on classic Italian cuisine for home cooks from New York's acclaimed Fiamma restaurant.

At Home with Magnolia: Classic American Recipes from the Owner of Magnolia Bakery
Known for recipes evoking a homemade, uncomplicated era, Allysa Torey, the owner of New York's renowned Magnolia Bakery, expands her repertoire with 93 great recipes for appetizers, soups, casseroles, main courses, vegetables, and, of course, desserts.

The Soul of a New Cuisine: A Discovery of the Foods and Flavors of Africa
Marcus Samuelsson, award-winning chef/owner of Restaurant Aquavit and Riingo, takes his formidable culinary talents and curiosity to Africa to bring the continent's diverse cultures and cuisines alive for home cooks in this beautiful book with more than 200 recipes, 250 photos, and fascinating stories of his journey.

Artisanal Cooking: A Chef Shares His Passion for Handcrafting Great Meals at Home
Terrance Brennan, the chef/owner of two acclaimed restaurants, Picholine and Artisanal, brings to life his passion for simple yet flavorful cuisine in this wonderful cookbook.

Go Fish: Fresh Ideas for American Seafood
Celebrated chef Laurent Tourondel of New York's BLT Fish and BLT Steak, reveals how creating elegant, mouthwatering seafood at home can be marvelously easy-and faster than you might think.

Gordon Ramsay Makes It Easy
International superstar chef Gordon Ramsey, owner of the forthcoming New York hot spot "The London," reveals all, from techniques and short cuts to clever cooking tips.

Book Description

The exciting, new book by Gordon Ramsay, star of "Hell's Kitchen," the hot reality show airing now on Fox. Gordon Ramsay, the temperamental and demanding star of "Hell's Kitchen," which is airing on Fox this summer, is known around the world for his culinary expertise. How does he achieve such success? Ramsay's brand-new cookbook, In the Heat of the Kitchen, reveals all, from techniques and short cuts to clever cooking tips. This is also a collection of superb recipes, every one tested to ensure success in the home kitchen, including gorgeous full-color photographs of finished dishes and photos of step-by-step techniques as well. With chapters on fish, poultry, meat, vegetables, salads, fruits and breads, this is a cookbook you will turn to whenever you want to cook with lots of style and a minimum of fuss.

Customer Reviews:

small town texas review.......2007-01-18

This book includes recipes that have so many hard to find or expensive ingredients it is just not pratical for the average middle class cook. The recipes sound wonderful and the pictures are very appealing but I will probably never be able to make any of them because of the expense and the hard to find items.

Great tastes here!.......2007-01-04

My wife and i use this book alot. It has broadened our horizons when eating.

Exact Replica of 'Secrets'.......2006-11-05

Whilst Gordon Ramsay is an excellent chef and I have enjoyed many of his books, I am was very disappointed when this book arrived this morning to find that it is an identical copy of his 2004 book 'Secrets'. So, if you already own 'Secrets', DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK!!!

Great cookbook.......2006-10-11

I tried some recipes in this book. The Blueberry Muffins and the baked Strawberry Cheesecake turned out just lovely. Gordon Ramsay is a Brillant chef

Gordon Ramsay Cookbook.......2006-08-13

This cookbook was just a little over my head. I guess I am not into so much gourmet, not sure I would ever attempt what is in the book.

Average customer rating:

Great HVAC Rule of Thumbs!!!
Real Truth
Great Resource...
unorganized but occasionally useful
I made the wrong decision

HVAC Equations, Data and Rules of Thumb
Arthur A. Bell
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Professional
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Electrical & Electronics | Engineering | New & Used Textbooks | Stores | Books

Mechanical | Engineering | New & Used Textbooks | Stores | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Professional | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Reference | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Science | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0071361294

Book Description

HVAC answers at your fingertips! Grab this book...it's filled with valuable equations that most HVAC personnel use on a daily basis.
-- Bob Rosaler, author, bestselling HVAC Handbook.

It's very easy to find all those minute details that often mean the difference between an average design and an excellent one.
-- David Meredith, Chairman, Building Environmental Systems Technology, Penn State University.

The most complete, most job-critical reference for the most frequently used HVAC design data describes HVAC Equations, Data, Rules of Thumb. Veteran HVAC designer Arthur Bell Jr.'s handy, superbly organized data bank follows the CSI MasterFormat.

You'll reach for this time-saving task-simplifier dozens of times every working day for: Equations - more than 216 equations for everything from ductwork to air change rates...from steel pipe, relief valve and water heater sizing to NPSH calculations, Data definitions, ASME and ASHRAE code specs, air and waterproperties, conversion factors, building construction business fundamentals, equipment manufacturers, energy conservation conditions, auxiliary equipment, designer's checklists, professional societies and organizations, and more. 358 Rules of Thumb in all for buildings of every imaginable type, from churches to cocktail lounges. Includes cooling and heating loads, infiltration, ventilation, humidification, people/occupancy, lighting,appliance/equipment, more.

Customer Reviews:

Great HVAC Rule of Thumbs!!!.......2007-01-12

This book is filled with alot of information that will come in handy for an entry level HVAC designer because it contains all sorts of fundamental equations as well as rules of thumbs that the industry uses. It's also great when you're not sure of something and it's there for a quick look up. The book is nicely laid out for convience.

Real Truth.......2006-07-11

In my opinion it's a good book for aquiring knowledge about the Design, Common Systems, codes.... For students as well as for designers also it's helpful for adopting the systems and requirements in the fast growing world.

Great Resource..........2005-07-25

I am a recent grad and working in a engineering firm where I am constantly looking for rules of thumb, helpful design guidelines, and data pertaining to my projects. This book offers a wealth of hvac information that is organized and extremely valuable for entry hvac engineers.

unorganized but occasionally useful.......2005-03-04

This book did not live up to my expectations, yet over the years I have used it on occasion. Typically, for conversions, steam tables, general rules of thumb. If you have studied for the PE exam, you probably have most of what this book has to offer.

I made the wrong decision.......2004-01-23

I was very disappointed to get this book.
I've gone through it and found it is a book of waste money and time. It is hard for me to get this book returned to get my money back because I am in Australia but I'll try.
If you like HVAC, go try other books, not this one.

How to Make Love and Dinner at the Same Time: 200 Slow Cooker Recipes to Heat Up the Bedroom Instead of the Kitchen

Average customer rating:

buying more copies!
Enhanced with humeours sidebars on food, family, men, & life
I Love Love And Dinner!
Rebecca Field Jager makes it simple, tasty and fun!
I Love Love And Dinner!

How to Make Love and Dinner at the Same Time: 200 Slow Cooker Recipes to Heat Up the Bedroom Instead of the Kitchen
Rebecca Field Jager
Manufacturer: Adams Media Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Special Appliances | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1580629180

Customer Reviews:

buying more copies!.......2005-11-25

I have had this cookbook now for several months and I have tried several recipes. They have all worked beautifully and gotten rave reviews. The best part however, is the fun reading and the asides that are spinkled throughout the book. I'm here ordering three more for friends for Christmas. Can't think of a better gift!

Enhanced with humeours sidebars on food, family, men, & life.......2004-05-08

Fine food and great sex are the basic building blocks of an enduring true love! In How To Make Love And Dinner At The Same Time, Canadian food writer and home cook Rebecca Field Jager showcases easy to prepare, low-stress, "couple friendly", highly recommended recipes that will enhance the romance for any domestic relationship. Enhanced with humeours sidebars on food, family, men, and life, the more than 200 slow cooker recipes range from Easy Wine-and-Cheese Fondue; Dark and Delicious Beef Broth; and Share-It Steak and Sausage Pie; to Fench White Veal Stew; Spice-of-Life Pork Chop Bake; and Red-Hot Ladies' Fingers.

I Love Love And Dinner!.......2004-04-28

A friend gave me How To Make Love And Dinner At The Same Time for my birthday last month (she knew what a crazy life I lead and thought this book might help). Nice to have a giggle as you're making dinner. We've loved every recipe we've tried --- my family tends to be picky eaters, so you have no idea how happy this makes me! Can't wait for Rebecca's next book!

Rebecca Field Jager makes it simple, tasty and fun!.......2004-04-26

I've had this book for three months and have rediscovered how perfect the slow cooker is for my family, thanks to Rebecca. I've cooked more than 25 dishes now and they have all been a success with my family and friends. People now think I'm some kind of gourmet chef thanks to this book, and the recipes are all simple, some with only 3 ingredients. Some of my best successes have been Warm Bean Salsa, Carmelized Red Onion Dip, Sticky Wings, Chicken Bites In Thai Peanut Sauce, Tropical Pepper Pot, Thai Beef Curry, Hot & Sour Pork, Chicken Tarragon and Pasta Primavera, to name just a few. This is just a perfect cook book, and is on top of that, it's so much fun to read Rebecca's stories and background info.

I am a big fan of How To Make Love and Dinner!

I Love Love And Dinner!.......2004-04-13

Average customer rating:

Kitchen Heat: Poems
Ava Leavell Haymon
Manufacturer: Louisiana State University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0807131717

Book Description

Kitchen Heat records in woman's language the charm and bite of domestic life. Ava Leavell Haymon's poems form a collection of Household Tales, unswerving and unsentimental, serving up the strenuous intimacies, children, meals, pets, roused memories, outrages, and solaces of marriage and family.

Some of the poems are comic, such as "Conjugal Love Poem," about a wife who resists giving her husband the pity he seeks when complaining about a cold. Others find myth and fairy tale lived out in contemporary setting, with ironic result. Others rename the cast of characters: husband and wife become rhinoceros and ox; a carpool driver, the ominous figure Denmother.

An elderly female is Old Grandmother, who creates time and granddaughters from oyster stew. The humidity of Deep South summers and steam from Louisiana recipes contribute to a simmering language, out of which people and images emerge and into which they dissolve again.

Denmother went to college in the 60s,
could pin your ears back at a cocktail party.
Her laugh had an edge to it,
and her yard was always cut.

She grew twisted herbs in the flower beds,
hid them like weeds among dumpy marigolds.
The wolfsbane killed the pansies
before they bloomed much.

She'd look at you real straight and talk
about nuclear power plants or abortion. At home
alone she boiled red potatoes all night
to make the primitive starch that holds up the clouds.
--"Denmother's Conversation"

Average customer rating:
BBQ Food: Get Out of the Kitchen and Turn Up the Heat

Manufacturer: Laurel Glen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Barbecuing & Grilling | Outdoor Cooking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Outdoor Cooking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Family Food (Laurel Glen Little Food Series)

Comfort Food: 200 Easy Recipes from Hearty Stews to Fiery Curries (Little Food Series)

Cool Food: 200 Easy and Refreshing Recipes for Lazy Days

Sweet Food: 200 Delicious Treats to Cure Any Craving (Laurel Glen Little Food Series)

Quick Food: 200 Easy Everyday Ideas for Busy Cooks

ASIN: 1592232744

Book Description

An invitation to a barbecue usually means it's time to enjoy good company and great food. Food never tastes better than when it is cooked outdoors. From the traditional fare of steak and sausages to the more gourmet style of Thai Beef Salad, the recipes in BBQ Food showcase the wonderful variety of dishes that can be cooked on a barbecue — with both the traditional wood-fired and the high-tech electric or gas grill. Here are such irresistible dishes as Spiced Duck Breast with Peach and Chili Salad, Korean Barbecue Beef in Lettuce Leaves, and Grilled Panettone with Peaches.

500 Hot and Spicy Recipes: Bring the sizzling flavors and aromas of chillies and spice into your kitchen with fiery recipes from the heat-loving cuisines ... in 500 mouth-watering color photographs

Average customer rating:

500 Hot and Spicy Recipes: Bring the sizzling flavors and aromas of chillies and spice into your kitchen with fiery recipes from the heat-loving cuisines ... in 500 mouth-watering color photographs
Jenni Fleetwood
Manufacturer: Lorenz Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0754817628

Book Description

These recipes clearly show how to make the most of hot and spicy ingredients in chapters that cover every aspect of cooking with these versatile flavourings, including an inspiring selection of scintillating starters appetizers and snacks; tasty soups, fiery fish and shellfish dishes; scorching poultry and meat recipes; vibrant vegetarian main courses and side dishes; and even piquant salads and vegetable side dishes.

Average customer rating:

The complete works of Count Rumford
Benjamin Rumford
Manufacturer: Estes adn Lauriat
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Nutrition | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0008AEKZI

Average customer rating:

The Heat of the Kitchen
Bernard Donoughue
Manufacturer: Politico's Publishing Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1842750933

How to Make Love & Dinner at the Same Time: 200 Slow Cooker Recipes to Heat Up the Bedroom Instead of the Kitchen

Average customer rating:

How to Make Love & Dinner at the Same Time: 200 Slow Cooker Recipes to Heat Up the Bedroom Instead of the Kitchen
Rebecca Field Jager
Manufacturer: Willow Creek Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Special Appliances | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Love & Romance | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1595436154

Product Description

Laced with dozens of zingers on men, money, shopping, sex, and work, this book offers 200 steamy recipes that require a half hour or less of preparation time. This is a slow cooker cookbook that sizzles!

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books