• Garlic and Sapphires

  • The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise
  • By: Ruth Reichl
  • Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne
  • Length: 10 hrs and 57 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,252 ratings)

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Garlic and Sapphires  By  cover art

Garlic and Sapphires

By: Ruth Reichl
Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne
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Editorial reviews

Reichl, former New York Times restaurant critic, takes you on an undercover tour of the best New York restaurants. She makes you feel like you're right there with her, disguise and all. That's right, disguise. Because her work required anonymity, Reichl had to don new disguises in each restaurant. Her memories of both food and façade are fascinating and highly entertaining.

Her descriptions of food will have even the pickiest eater craving sushi, caviar, even squid ink! She also includes simple recipes for things like New York Style Cheesecake and Spaghetti Carbonara.

Narrator Bernadette Dunne sounds very much like Reichl herself, inhabiting every delicious moment and brining you along for the bite. Whether you're a food fan or not, this is a great memoir.

Publisher's 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.

©2005 Ruth Reichl (P)2005 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

"This wonderful book is funny - at times laugh-out-loud funny - and smart and wise." (The Washington Post)

"Reichl is so gifted...the reader remains hungry for more." (USA Today)

"Expansive and funny." (Entertainment Weekly)

What listeners say about Garlic and Sapphires

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  • Overall
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great listen-but don't listen while you are hungry

What did you love best about Garlic and Sapphires?

food, food and more food

What did you like best about this story?

the food descriptions

Have you listened to any of Bernadette Dunne’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The food critic

Any additional comments?

this was a very easy and fun listen. The narrator was great. Very enjoyable.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Made me appreciate food

Reichl has a magical way with words. So much fun to read! I highly recommend

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

This book changed my life before I read it.

I heard about this book ages ago. The concept that people react to you based on your persona much more then based on their attitude is literally world changing for me. Also a fun read.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Highly Recommended

This book was great...funny and eye opening. Having the recipes read to me was like talking to my mother over the phone...I ended up having to borrow the book from the library so I could copy the recipes. If you like food and dining out, you should love it!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic

I'm mourning the end of this book. Her rich details of everything- food, city lights, feelings and more, were incredibly captivating. I'm glad I got the unabridged version. I truly enjoyed hearing the restaurant column after talking about the restaurant experience. Great, great, great book!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent and absorbing listen!

Food writing is an art, and Ruth Reichl has mastered it. A fascinating look behind the scenes of a career that most of us just dream about - the food critic. Read by Ms. Reichl, this book will keep you listening from the very first word and sad once it ends. Eating out will never be the same! The undertone of the book will have you thinking about exactly what message you're sending every time you get dressed in the morning. Well worth the ride!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Makes me want to cook

A wonderful book. I'd listen and then head to the kitchen. I was inspired by the dedication of the chefs Ruth meets and reviews. I also gained a new appreciation for the small out of the way little restaurants that dot our country. So much good food goes unappreciated, and so much bad food gets sold because the setting is tony or fashionable.
The narrator made me think she'd been there - it made for a great Audiobook. I can't wait to read Ruth's other books.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Dream Job

This book was an interesting look at Ruth Reichl's career as restaurant reviewer for the New York Times. Yes, it would be my dream job, but I doubt if I could enter into the masaquerade as fully, and with such joy, as Ruth. I love her sense of fun even as she's working. Her idea to return to restaurants masquerading as different people to see how other classes are treated was genius.
I'd invite her to dinner any time. Whether she liked my food or not, I would be sure of receiving an honest opinion and have a lively & intelligent dinner guest.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Wonderful book

I love Ruth and I don’t even know her. Her life is an inspiration to mine and her memoirs reveal so much of her humanity. If I ever had the privilege of meeting her I think we would be friend.

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Made me hungry!

This was a fun read! I can't wait to try some of the included recipes!

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