Sweetbitter
Book Review - Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler
I often get asked where I hear about all the books I choose to read. Well, this one came from a post on Instagram by Sarah Jessica Parker. Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler is a coming of age story about Tess who, at 22, moved to New York City to start her adult life and begin working her way up at “the best restaurant in NYC.” She learns a lot about food and wine in the process - but it was her appetite for knowledge, experience, and belonging that I could relate to the most. I’m reading another book with some of my students (post coming soon) about how to kill it in your career…Tess should have read this book before graduating from college - she made lots of mistakes at her first job, but it made for an entertaining novel!
I've never worked in the food industry (besides a short stint as a hostess at Chili's, but I think we can all agree that doesn't really count) so I didn't know a "shift drink" was a thing. But I think I'll start having my own shift drink after work. This is one of those novels that gives you a glimpse inside a world that is otherwise kept hidden behind the facade of fine dining.
One thing that really stuck with me after reading this book was the way food was described, “Appetite is not a symptom...It cannot be cured. It’s a state of being, and like most, has its attendant moral consequences.” If you enjoy eating out at the best new restaurants, you'll enjoy reading this book.In addition, you might also enjoy the following television shows and documentaries:
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