Culinary Leverage
A Journey Through the Heat
by Douglas Keane
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Pub Date Feb 25 2025 | Archive Date Not set
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Description
Culinary Leverage: A Journey Through the Heat is about exposing the dysfunction of an industry through the eyes of a highly decorated chef who, through hard-won experience, resilience and grief, soul searching and moments of reckoning, finds a healthier way forward, not just for himself but for the restaurant business as a whole. Travel with Chef Keane as his passion for hard work and cooking is ignited as a young kid growing up in Dearborn, Michigan. Cheer for him as he follows his dream to the gritty but seductive streets and kitchens of New York City and realizes his vocation. Empathize with him as he encounters and confronts bullies and egos hell-bent on destroying the dream. And root for him as he charges forth with a revolutionary new approach and strives to create an unparalleled magical journey at Cyrus for his guests and team, one based on style and substance with a conscience and connection.
A Note From the Publisher
Advance Praise
"Chef Doug Keane has written an inspiring tale of dreaming big, succeeding against all odds, and upending an industry in the process. His voice on the page is raw, humble, and darkly funny. He reminds us that a more decent world is possible. Culinary Leverage is riveting, courageous, and honest. I think you will enjoy it." -Chef Jacques Pepin
It is a rare gift to know someone as talented, humble and self-aware as Chef Doug Keane. In the two decades since I met him, he has not only proven himself a master innovator in our industry, but, perhaps more importantly, a thought leader, pushing us gently and purposefully towards a higher standard of kindness, empathy and resilience. With Culinary Leverage, he lays bare not just his emotional personal history but a framework for living that applies equally to the pro kitchen, the boardroom, and the family table. His story will forever change the way I think about our food system and the extraordinary community of people who have dedicated their lives to the craft of cooking, at all costs.-Gail Simmons, food expert, TV host and author of Bringing It Home
"Honest. Eye-opening. Harrowing. Brilliant. Douglas Keane's Culinary Leverage is a deeply grabbing look at the travails and high points of one of the world's best chefs. Anyone who thinks perfection comes easy, in any domain from food to law, business to music, should read this book. An homage to grittiness and sheer will, Douglas' story will stay with you for years."-Neal Katyal, former acting solicitor general of the United States
"Yo, my man Douglas has a powerful story to tell and has proof of concept every night at his amazing restaurant Cyrus. Through his true honesty, passion and love- he is one of the best. Every industry could learn something about doing it better by reading Culinary Leverage."-Randy Jackson, musician, television personality
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9798888245187 |
| PRICE | $21.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 250 |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
julie k, Reviewer
Thank you, Köehler Books for providing a copy of Culinary Leverage by Douglas Keane for me to review. I learned of this book after reading an interview with Keane on the Food Gal blog. The interview was great and I couldn’t wait to read this memoir. It started out a little darker than I expected and I shed a few tears at first but that shows how affecting the writing was. I loved learning about the restaurant star rating system and how it affects chefs. I got a kick out of the mentions of Michael Bauer, former local restaurant critic here. I have a feeling Keane could have said a lot more about the “Bauer Era”! This is an amazing book that pulls no punches and is an interesting view of the realities of working in and owning restaurants. Keane has lots of ideas about improving the restaurant business, and his new venture Cyrus incorporates his vision. It sounds amazing and I really enjoyed meeting his team and learning about their contributions. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for this fascinating book!
Lily B, Reviewer
There's a wonderful warmth and honesty to Keene's voice as he narrates his life, making it easy to love and admire the flawed yet openhearted and deeply empathetic man within the pages. His love of his family, friends, dogs, and food is palpable, and his petty moments, when he describes celebrities and investors he's had run-ins with just serve to make him more endearing to me. And how sad am I to be on the opposite coast from Cyrus, his restaurant? SO SAD, you guys! I could practically taste the food when he described it, but 'practically' ain't the same as actually tasting it.
And yes, everything about the dogs made me tear up. And the elephants! OMG.
If there's a weakness here, it's when Keene shifts mode from memoir to prescriptive work. His points are excellent, but he has a tendency to repeat himself when trying to make them, and I miss the showing when he's telling. Nevertheless, this can't ding my rating much, because what Keene's trying to do for the culinary industry is so necessary and so good.
Thank you to NetGalley and Köehler Books for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions within are my own.
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