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

Written by:
Ruth Reichl
Narrated by:
Bernadette Dunne

Unabridged Audiobook

Ratings
Book
120
Narrator
2
Release Date
April 2005
Duration
10 hours 57 minutes
Summary
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.
Reviews
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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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Anonymous

I'm not a "foodie", so my enjoyment of this book was a wonderful surprise. She writes well, and it was VERY entertaining. I hated to see it end!

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Anonymous

Even if you are not a self professed "foodie", but you like a good story, this book is very entertaining.

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Megan Hall

Ruth does a great job in this book in keeping the reviews entertaining and inviting you to taste the food right along with her. She may not be the best reader in the world, but her writing style is amazing. If you are a foodie, you will really enjoy her commentary and how down-to-earth she is. More than that, you can relate to the things she looks for in good food. It is only four discs, so I would just take the time to listen. It's the perfect length and I never got tired of the storyline. Great work Ruth!

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Eliba

I love listening to Ruth Reichl. She is a wonderful story teller. With frankness and a great sense of humor, and humility she shares her passion for food, freindship and the hard knocks of being a food critic.

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Phyllis Brown

I really enjoyed it. A completely new slant on the dining experience. A funny, informative, creative, entertaining story.

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Jodi

Fun for people who fancy themselves foodies as the author does a good job of translating taste in text. Also fun for people who are just curious about the life and trials of a food critic. Note: The author’s voice is mildly annoying but easy enough to get through if you keep the volume low.

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Anonymous

I kept trying to figure out the point of this story. I still haven't figured it out. The writer is very good at describing food though.

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Katya

Called on this site a 'riotous account,' GARLIC AND SAPPHIRES can't quite claim that honor. Funny, yes. Wonderful descriptions of succulent food at the best New York restuarants, yes. Riotous, no. Ruth Reichl, New York Times food critic, employs many creative disguises to ensure she is treated as any other diner, and the "characters" she invents are quite interesting. The author reads her work and isn't the best choice for the task but this is an engaging little book and tailor made for food lovers.

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Anonymous

I liked Reichl's approach to reviewing restaurants: looking from both the 'celebrity' side and the 'average Joe' side. The best restaurants, in theory, wouldn't differentiate but that is true only in a dream world. The story of her slipping in to not only disguises but personalities was a bit unsettling, but overall, it was an interesting book.

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Suzann McGinnis

At first I wondered why I was listening and then it really caught my ear. If you love food, restaurants, New York...this is the book for you. I will be looking for more writings or cookbooks by Ruth Reichl.

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Delores Brouillard

I liked the book. It did seem to 'get a little old' at times, but overall I found it both interesting and informative.

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Lisa

When I selected this book, I thought, "oh, it might be interesting" - I wasn't necessarily jumping up and down with excitement over it. I was pleasantly surprised. I LOVED this book. Ruth Reichl did an excellent job reading her book, and I thought she did a good job distinguishing between the different characters. The insight into a restaurant critic's job was fascinating. And I loved hearing about the different restaurants - I'll likely never visit any of the ones she reviewed, but I enjoyed living vicariously through her. It made my commute to work a lot more enjoyable.

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Glenn Van Etten

A delightful book. I would like to have more from this author.

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mge

Ruth does a great job telling her own story as the narrator. It was easy to immediately be involved with the book. Her details about enjoying food were fantastic. A fun insight into a unique experience.

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Denise Williams

Listened to this book while commuting to work on our public metro system....made the trip pass by so quickly. I would never visit the sort of restaurants that Ruth did, so it was wonderful to live through her. She has the ability to actually make you taste the food. Great fun!

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Leslie Hauser

Of Ruth Reichl's three autobiographies to date, this was certainly the most fun--the real story of what it's like to be the NY Times restaurant critic! The author does a very nice job reading her story. A very enjoyable listen for anyone interested in restaurant culture!

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Anonymous

I found this to be an interesting look at the world of a restaurant critic. There is a brief interview with the author at the end. I think that Ruth Reichl's food lust can help us all to appreciate the value of a good meal.

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