Reviews
Ambition, abandonment, revenge, the Napoleonic code, broken promises, gorillas, bad contracts, evil intentions, and lawsuits never-ending; they're all here in Randy Fertel's feast of a memoir, served with a healthy side of New Orleans history, and, for dessert, ville flottante! Balzac would be envious; Tennessee Williams would feel right at home.--Valerie Martin, Orange Prize-winning author of Property and Mary Reilly A giant jambalaya of a book that throws into the pot a huge variety of ingredients that surprise, delight, burn the tongue, sear the heart, make you laugh until you cry--and beg for more. Randy Fertel's triumph, as a writer obsessed with history, is to have turned the story of his own disastrous family into the story of the city itself, and of its survival.--Betty Fussell, James Beard Foundation Award-winner and author of Raising Steaks: The Life and Times of American Beef Funny, smart, poignant, and richly redolent of New Orleans, Randy Fertel's The Gorilla Man and the Empress of Steak is a brilliant memoir by a very talented writer indeed.--Robert Olen Butler, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain His mother was the 'first lady of American restaurants.' His father was 'odd, self-centered, and nuts.' Randy Fertel leverages a raucous New Orleans upbringing, in which Salvador Dali and Edwin Edwards play bit parts, to tell the story of an uncommon American family, defined, in equal measure, by bold swagger and humbling vulnerabilities.--John T. Edge, series editor of Cornbread Nation: The Best of Southern Food Writing Lots of New Orleans history in this family story, which is wilder than the gorillas and almost as juicy as the steaks.--Roy Blount Jr., author, Feet on the Street: Rambles around New Orleans A vivid, engrossing evocation of New Orleans, an exceptional city, in part because of characters like Randy Fertel's parents, Ruth and Rodney, the Empress of Steak and the Gorilla Man. A wonderful reading experience.--Susan Orlean, author of The Orchid Thief and Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend Randy Fertel's soulful southern storytelling captures you instantly. I love how he uses the lens of family and food to tell the rich, complex history of New Orleans.--Alice Waters, founder, Chez Panisse Restaurant
�Randy Fertel�s soulful southern storytelling captures you instantly. I love how he uses the lens of family and food to tell the rich, complex history of New Orleans.��Alice Waters, founder, Chez Panisse Restaurant �A vivid, engrossing evocation of New Orleans, an exceptional city, in part because of characters like Randy Fertel's parents, Ruth and Rodney, the Empress of Steak and the Gorilla Man. A wonderful reading experience.��Susan Orlean, author of The Orchid Thief and Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend �Lots of New Orleans history in this family story, which is wilder than the gorillas and almost as juicy as the steaks.��Roy Blount Jr., author, Feet on the Street: Rambles around New Orleans �His mother was the �first lady of American restaurants.� His father was �odd, self-centered, and nuts.� Randy Fertel leverages a raucous New Orleans upbringing, in which Salvador Dali and Edwin Edwards play bit parts, to tell the story of an uncommon American family, defined, in equal measure, by bold swagger and humbling vulnerabilities.��John T. Edge, series editor of Cornbread Nation: The Best of Southern Food Writing �Funny, smart, poignant, and richly redolent of New Orleans, Randy Fertel�s The Gorilla Man and the Empress of Steak is a brilliant memoir by a very talented writer indeed.��Robert Olen Butler, Pulitzer Prize�winning author of A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain �A giant jambalaya of a book that throws into the pot a huge variety of ingredients that surprise, delight, burn the tongue, sear the heart, make you laugh until you cry�and beg for more. Randy Fertel�s triumph, as a writer obsessed with history, is to have turned the story of his own disastrous family into the story of the city itself, and of its survival.��Betty Fussell, James Beard Foundation Award�winner and author of Raising Steaks: The Life and Times of American Beef �Ambition, abandonment, revenge, the Napoleonic code, broken promises, gorillas, bad contracts, evil intentions, and lawsuits never-ending; they�re all here in Randy Fertel�s feast of a memoir, served with a healthy side of New Orleans history, and, for dessert, ville flottante! Balzac would be envious; Tennessee Williams would feel right at home.��Valerie Martin, Orange Prize�winning author of Property and Mary Reilly -Randy Fertel's soulful southern storytelling captures you instantly. I love how he uses the lens of family and food to tell the rich, complex history of New Orleans.--Alice Waters, founder, Chez Panisse Restaurant -A vivid, engrossing evocation of New Orleans, an exceptional city, in part because of characters like Randy Fertel's parents, Ruth and Rodney, the Empress of Steak and the Gorilla Man. A wonderful reading experience.--Susan Orlean, author of The Orchid Thief and Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend -Lots of New Orleans history in this family story, which is wilder than the gorillas and almost as juicy as the steaks.---Roy Blount Jr., author, Feet on the Street: Rambles around New Orleans -His mother was the 'first lady of American restaurants.' His father was 'odd, self-centered, and nuts.' Randy Fertel leverages a raucous New Orleans upbringing, in which Salvador Dali and Edwin Edwards play bit parts, to tell the story of an uncommon American family, defined, in equal measure, by bold swagger and humbling vulnerabilities.--John T. Edge, series editor of Cornbread Nation: The Best of Southern Food Writing -Funny, smart, poignant, and richly redolent of New Orleans, Randy Fertel's The Gorilla Man and the Empress of Steak is a brilliant memoir by a very talented writer indeed.--Robert Olen Butler, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain -A giant jambalaya of a book that throws into the pot a huge variety of ingredients that surprise, delight, burn the tongue, sear the heart, make you laugh until you cry--and beg for more. Randy Fertel's triumph, as a writer obsessed with history, is to have turned the story of his own disastrous family into the story of the city itself, and of its survival.--Betty Fussell, James Beard Foundation Award-winner and author of Raising Steaks: The Life and Times of American Beef -Ambition, abandonment, revenge, the Napoleonic code, broken promises, gorillas, bad contracts, evil intentions, and lawsuits never-ending; they're all here in Randy Fertel's feast of a memoir, served with a healthy side of New Orleans history, and, for dessert, ville flottante! Balzac would be envious; Tennessee Williams would feel right at home.--Valerie Martin, Orange Prize-winning author of Property and Mary Reilly Randy Fertel's soulful southern storytelling captures you instantly. I love how he uses the lens of family and food to tell the rich, complex history of New Orleans. -Alice Waters, founder, Chez Panisse Restaurant A vivid, engrossing evocation of New Orleans, an exceptional city, in part because of characters like Randy Fertel's parents, Ruth and Rodney, the Empress of Steak and the Gorilla Man. A wonderful reading experience. -Susan Orlean, author of The Orchid Thief and Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend Lots of New Orleans history in this family story, which is wilder than the gorillas and almost as juicy as the steaks. --Roy Blount Jr., author, Feet on the Street: Rambles around New Orleans His mother was the 'first lady of American restaurants.' His father was 'odd, self-centered, and nuts.' Randy Fertel leverages a raucous New Orleans upbringing, in which Salvador Dali and Edwin Edwards play bit parts, to tell the story of an uncommon American family, defined, in equal measure, by bold swagger and humbling vulnerabilities. -John T. Edge, series editor of Cornbread Nation: The Best of Southern Food Writing Funny, smart, poignant, and richly redolent of New Orleans, Randy Fertel's The Gorilla Man and the Empress of Steak is a brilliant memoir by a very talented writer indeed. -Robert Olen Butler, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain A giant jambalaya of a book that throws into the pot a huge variety of ingredients that surprise, delight, burn the tongue, sear the heart, make you laugh until you cry--and beg for more. Randy Fertel's triumph, as a writer obsessed with history, is to have turned the story of his own disastrous family into the story of the city itself, and of its survival. -Betty Fussell, James Beard Foundation Award-winner and author of Raising Steaks: The Life and Times of American Beef Ambition, abandonment, revenge, the Napoleonic code, broken promises, gorillas, bad contracts, evil intentions, and lawsuits never-ending; they're all here in Randy Fertel's feast of a memoir, served with a healthy side of New Orleans history, and, for dessert, ville flottante! Balzac would be envious; Tennessee Williams would feel right at home. -Valerie Martin, Orange Prize-winning author of Property and Mary Reilly Randy Fertel s soulful southern storytelling captures you instantly. I love how he uses the lens of family and food to tell the rich, complex history of New Orleans. Alice Waters, founder, Chez Panisse Restaurant A vivid, engrossing evocation of New Orleans, an exceptional city, in part because of characters like Randy Fertel's parents, Ruth and Rodney, the Empress of Steak and the Gorilla Man. A wonderful reading experience. Susan Orlean, author of The Orchid Thief and Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend Lots of New Orleans history in this family story, which is wilder than the gorillas and almost as juicy as the steaks. Roy Blount Jr., author, Feet on the Street: Rambles around New Orleans His mother was the first lady of American restaurants. His father was odd, self-centered, and nuts. Randy Fertel leverages a raucous New Orleans upbringing, in which Salvador Dali and Edwin Edwards play bit parts, to tell the story of an uncommon American family, defined, in equal measure, by bold swagger and humbling vulnerabilities. John T. Edge, series editor of Cornbread Nation: The Best of Southern Food Writing Funny, smart, poignant, and richly redolent of New Orleans, Randy Fertel s The Gorilla Man and the Empress of Steak is a brilliant memoir by a very talented writer indeed. Robert Olen Butler, Pulitzer Prize winning author of A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain A giant jambalaya of a book that throws into the pot a huge variety of ingredients that surprise, delight, burn the tongue, sear the heart, make you laugh until you cry and beg for more. Randy Fertel s triumph, as a writer obsessed with history, is to have turned the story of his own disastrous family into the story of the city itself, and of its survival. Betty Fussell, James Beard Foundation Award winner and author of Raising Steaks: The Life and Times of American Beef Ambition, abandonment, revenge, the Napoleonic code, broken promises, gorillas, bad contracts, evil intentions, and lawsuits never-ending; they re all here in Randy Fertel s feast of a memoir, served with a healthy side of New Orleans history, and, for dessert, ville flottante! Balzac would be envious; Tennessee Williams would feel right at home. Valerie Martin, Orange Prize winning author of Property and Mary Reilly Randy Fertel s soulful southern storytelling captures you instantly. I love how he uses the lens of family and food to tell the rich, complex history of New Orleans. Alice Waters, founder, Chez Panisse Restaurant A vivid, engrossing evocation of New Orleans, an exceptional city, in part because of characters like Randy Fertel's parents, Ruth and Rodney, the Empress of Steak and the Gorilla Man. A wonderful reading experience. Susan Orlean, author of The Orchid Thief and Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend Lots of New Orleans history in this family story, which is wilder than the gorillas and almost as juicy as the steaks. Roy Blount Jr., author, Feet on the Street: Rambles around New Orleans His mother was the first lady of American restaurants. His father was odd, self-centered, and nuts. Randy Fertel leverages a raucous New Orleans upbringing, in which Salvador Dali and Edwin Edwards play bit parts, to tell the story of an uncommon American family, defined, in equal measure, by bold swagger and humbling vulnerabilities. John T. Edge, series editor of Cornbread Nation: The Best of Southern Food Writing Funny, smart, poignant, and richly redolent of New Orleans, Randy Fertel s The Gorilla Man and the Empress of Steak is a brilliant memoir by a very talented writer indeed. Robert Olen Butler, Pulitzer Prize winning author of A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain A giant jambalaya of a book that throws into the pot a huge variety of ingredients that surprise, delight, burn the tongue, sear the heart, make you laugh until you cry and beg for more. Randy Fertel s triumph, as a writer obsessed with history, is to have turned the story of his own disastrous family into the story of the city itself, and of its survival. Betty Fussell, James Beard Foundation Award winner and author of Raising Steaks: The Life and Times of American Beef Ambition, abandonment, revenge, the Napoleonic code, broken promises, gorillas, bad contracts, evil intentions, and lawsuits never-ending; they re all here in Randy Fertel s feast of a memoir, served with a healthy side of New Orleans history, and, for dessert, ville flottante ! Balzac would be envious; Tennessee Williams would feel right at home. Valerie Martin, Orange Prize winning author of Property and Mary Reilly A vivid, engrossing evocation of New Orleans, an exceptional city, in part because of characters like Randy Fertel's parents, Ruth and Rodney, the Empress of Steak and the Gorilla Man. A wonderful reading experience. -Susan Orlean, author of The Orchid Thief and Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend Lots of New Orleans history in this family story, which is wilder than the gorillas and almost as juicy as the steaks. --Roy Blount Jr., author, Feet on the Street: Rambles around New Orleans His mother was the 'first lady of American restaurants.' His father was 'odd, self-centered, and nuts.' Randy Fertel leverages a raucous New Orleans upbringing, in which Salvador Dali and Edwin Edwards play bit parts, to tell the story of an uncommon American family, defined, in equal measure, by bold swagger and humbling vulnerabilities. -John T. Edge, series editor of Cornbread Nation: The Best of Southern Food Writing Funny, smart, poignant, and richly redolent of New Orleans, Randy Fertel's The Gorilla Man and the Empress of Steak is a brilliant memoir by a very talented writer indeed. -Robert Olen Butler, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain A giant jambalaya of a book that throws into the pot a huge variety of ingredients that surprise, delight, burn the tongue, sear the heart, make you laugh until you cry--and beg for more. Randy Fertel's triumph, as a writer obsessed with history, is to have turned the story of his own disastrous family into the story of the city itself, and of its survival. -Betty Fussell, James Beard Foundation Award-winner and author of Raising Steaks: The Life and Times of American Beef Ambition, abandonment, revenge, the Napoleonic code, broken promises, gorillas, bad contracts, evil intentions, and lawsuits never-ending; they're all here in Randy Fertel's feast of a memoir, served with a healthy side of New Orleans history, and, for dessert, ville flottante ! Balzac would be envious; Tennessee Williams would feel right at home. -Valerie Martin, Orange Prize-winning author of Property and Mary Reilly Randy Fertel's soulful southern storytelling captures you instantly. I love how he uses the lens of family and food to tell the rich, complex history of New Orleans. -Alice Waters, founder, Chez Panisse Restaurant
<p> Ambition, abandonment, revenge, the Napoleonic code, broken promises, gorillas, bad contracts, evil intentions, and lawsuits never-ending; they're all here in Randy Fertel's feast of a memoir, served with a healthy side of New Orleans history, and, for dessert, ville flottante! Balzac would be envious, Tennessee Williams would feel right at home. <p>- Valerie Martin, Orange Prize-winning author of Property and Mary Reilly <p>
