My Usual Table: A Life in Restaurants

MyUsualTableisalovelettertothegreatrestaurantsthathavechangedthewayweeat—fromTraderVic’stoChezPanisseandSpagotoelBulli—andavividmemoirofalifelivedinfood,fromafoundingeditorofSaveurandJamesBeardAward-winningwriterColmanAndrews.Forreviewer,writer,andeditorColmanAndrews,restaurantshavebeenhisplayground,histheater,hisuniversity,hischurch,hisrefuge.Theestablishmentshehaslovedhavenotonlyinfluencedculinarytrendsathomeandabroad,butrepresentthechanginghistoryandcultureoffoodinAmericaandWesternEurope.Fromhisusualtable,hehaswatchedthegrowthofNouvelleCuisineandfusioncuisine;theorganicandlocavoremovements;nose-to-taileating;andso-called“moleculargastronomy.”InMyUsualTable,Andrewsinterweaveshisownstory—fromgrowingupinthesunsetyearsofHollywood’sgoldenagetotravelingtheworldinpursuitofgreatfood—withtalesoftherestaurants,chefs,andrestaurateurswhoareemblematicoftherevolutionsgreatandsmallthathaveforeverchangedthewayweeat,cook,andthinkaboutfood.