I just finished Manton's copy. A few observations:
- I did not stain or crease any of the pages.
- This was a quick read. It looks fairly robust, but the material on the pages is not. Take from that what you will.
- During the cancer talk, you could have taken the word 'Grant' and replaced it with 'Marsha' or 'Juan' or any other name and I think the story would have changed only marginally. How tragic that he couldn't eat or taste. It's no more pleasant if you're not a chef.
- And though he couldn't taste for so long, it's clear that he has constantly had a bitter aftertaste from Trotter that has been with him for years.
- Like Manton said, I agree that it seems like a lot of details were left out because he knew they'd make him look bad.
- I actually preferred reading the stuff by the money partner, Nick. Yes, he's a prick at times, but I am around people like this every day so it really doesn't bother me.
- I really would have appreciated more insight or thought into why he does what he does. But at the same time I am glad he didn't feel the need to get all philosophical. I heard Ferran Adria speak recently, and unprompted he got all philosophical about our perceptions, experiences, and interactions with water - but he could never connected the dots on any of the long winded sentences he produced. Kant would be dissapoint.
- It's clear that I'd never be fit to work there: every few weeks, some dish or glass or something inevitably breaks. This would, apparently, be the length of my employment.
- I thought one part was a little funny - he described the sheer enjoyment he had dining at TFL for the very first time with his dad, and then it was clear how humbling it was when Keller picked up the check. I found it to be an interesting contrast to Alinea's "favors to our biggest VIP's? ... that's something we just don't do."
- At no point did I not think of Heather as a little bit of a gold digger. And that opinion is based on my interactions with a number of the 'StarChefs' people.
