Book Rating (120)
Narrator Rating (2)

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

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Ruth Reichl

5 Hours 0 Minutes

Random House (Audio)

April 2005

Audio Book Summary

Includes an interview with the author and recipe cards!

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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Reviews

  • Elise S.

    Ruth Reichl tells some wonderful restaurant/foodie stories and throws some of her family's favorite recipes in, too. I loved how she introduced her son to cooking/food/good restaurants and then at the end confesses that he's really not that much into cooking.

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  • Anonymous

    I wouldn't call this book groundbreaking, But it keeps you interested and has a nice ending. Worth the read.

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  • Missy5ft2

    I found Garlic and Sapphires to be very enjoyable. I am fascinated by how Ruth's critic disguises were portrayed as her alter egos. At first it was difficult to get past the character voices - but I soon fell into the rhythm and especially enjoyed Miriam.

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  • EMoon

    The Good: Ruth Reichl genuinely loves food, and you can tell she really enjoyed the puckishness of dressing up and getting one over on snooty restaurant owners. It was fun to hear her describe her adventures in wig-purchasing and deception. It was very cool that she busted out some of the restaurants in NY for treating "the little people" with terrible service. The Bad: Especially after the third or fourth costume change, the book got a little self-indulgent, and became more about Ruth Reichl finding her inner child than the fun tone of the earlier book. I really don't care whether she was happy in her job, why she left to go edit Gourmet magazine, or even that she left at all. Basically, she spent the last 25% of the book justifying a decision she obviously felt guilty for. I wanted more shenanigans in restaurants, and could have done without the confessional. My advice? Read / listen to the book, skim the end.

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  • Anonymous

    I'm not sure how the author made her living as a writer. It's as if her 9th grade English teacher told her that it was a good idea to use LOTS of adjectives everywhere. It became comical after a while to see if she could right a straightforward sentence without over modifying. It never happened. While the premise of the book is interesting -- why someone would have to use disguises to write restaurant reviews -- it quickly wore thin. It was a huge mistake to have the author narrate. Her voice grates on the nerves, especially when she tries to act out her other characters. Basically this is a forgettable book, one I do not recommend.

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  • Anonymous

    This book was really fun and interesting! The author's voice got on my nerves a bit, but her story was worth ignoring the vocal tone. nice!

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  • Bruce Curson

    This reading contains multiple real life experiences that are narrated by a food critic of the New York Times. The author provides vivid detail in a pleasant style and uses the backdrop of the newspaper inner world to create an interesting setting. The story poignantly blends humor and real life experience as the adventures in the restaurant industry unfold. The question/answer epilogue at the end is an added plus.

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  • Michelle S.

    If you are a foodie or have dined in some of NYC's best restaurants, a fun and quick read. I enjoyed it.

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  • Adam

    Good read especially if you frequent the restaurants of New York.The subject matter and the author are very likable.

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  • Anonymous

    An entertaining, fun look at the world of wining & dining. The story didn't go anywhere though, and by Ruth's 3rd or 4th character I had had enough.

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