Blood, Bones & Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef

BeforeGabrielleHamiltonopenedheracclaimedNewYorkrestaurantPrune,shespenttwentyfierce,hard-livingyearstryingtofindpurposeandmeaninginherlife.Aboveallshesoughtfamily,particularlythethrillandthemagnificenceoftheonefromherchildhoodthat,inheradultyears,eludedher.Hamilton’seaseandcomfortinakitchenwereinstilledinheratanearlyagewhenherparentshostedgrandparties,oftenformorethanonehundredfriendsandneighbors.Thesmellsofspit-roastedlamb,applewoodsmoke,androsemarygarlicmarinadebecameasnecessarytoherasherownskin.Blood,Bones&ButterfollowsanunconventionaljourneythroughthemanykitchensHamiltonhasinhabitedthroughtheyears:theruralkitchenofherchildhood,whereheradoredmotherstoodoverthesix-burnerwithanoilywoodenspooninhand;thekitchensofFrance,Greece,andTurkey,whereshewasoftenfedbycompletestrangersandlearnedtheessenceofhospitality;thesoullesscateringfactoriesthathelpedpaytherent;Hamilton’sownkitchenatPrune,withitsmanyunexpectedchallenges;andthekitchenofherItalianmother-in-law,whoservesasthelinkbetweenHamilton’sidyllicpastandherownfuturefamily—theresultofadifficultandpricklymarriagethatnonethelessyieldsrichandlastingdividends.