Rating: 
Summary: Too much whining
Review: After the first few chapters I was angry more than anything. This young girl, who apparently doesn't drink - or eat - and without children to cart around or any other incumbrance, should have more of a sense of humor. My husband and I also own and operate a restaurant, but I also maintain a full time job (which I had before we opened the restaurant), have a 17 year old son, work lunches and dinners and make all the desserts at the restaurant!! Oh, aren't I wonderful! The writer needs to realize that we all work like dogs, but at the end of the day I sit down with a big glass of wine and realize how greatful I am for all of it!
Rating:
Summary: Whine of the Chef
Review: As the wife of a cook, I thought I would like this book more. I heard of it in one of the many culinary magazines that my husband gets, and thought "there's someone I can relate to." Unfortunately (Fortunately?) I couldn't relate to Courtney Febbroriello at all. I felt that this book was written in a bitter tone, by a woman who is living vicariously through her husband. She complains her way through the whole book, yearning to be part of the kitchen, but never really belonging to the group. She's also the most picky eater I have ever read- what was with the whole page devoted to making the ketchup based dip? I can tell you that being the wife (or husband) of the cook/chef isn't glamorous. Holidays don't exist. The working hours are strange. The cook comes home exhausted and smelly, usually with new open wounds and blisters. Courtney Fibbroriello just can't drop the 'woe is me' attitude, and it's grating. If you want to read a good book about the experience of a cook, read Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain. ...
Rating: 
Summary: A Very Entertaining Book for (and about) Restaurant Lovers
Review: For anyone who works in a restaurant, goes to restaurants or has ever dreamed of owning a restaurant (with or without their husband), this is a book you will want to read again and again. There will be times that you just pick it up for a good laugh, or you may have had a hard day at work and you need help putting things in perspective in order to face another day - or lastly, you feel you are the only one whose efforts go unnoticed. Take note - you're not! You have plenty of company, some of which are wives of chefs. Courtney Febbroriello has had many days asking herself - Is this all worth it? The answer - By relying on her extraordinary sense of humor to put things in perspective, this author is able to say it is and by reading this book, you will start looking at even bad situations with a smile knowing that like Courtney, you too can have the last laugh. In this, her first book, Courtney's humor and no holds barred approach leave you waiting impatiently for her next (but I don't dare tell her that I'm an impatient customer!)
Rating:
Summary: Bullseye!
Review: I cannot believe some of the reviews that actually do not get this book and think the author is just a jealous whiner. This is just not the case. Her examination of life of a "chef's wife" is a very brutal and honest portrait of what it is like to be the one behind the creativity, the one who gets no credit, but handles everything besides the meal preperations. Without her role, which is central to the overall success of their restaurant Metro Bis, there would be no glory for her husband, "The Chef." As the wife of a chef myself and co-owner of a restaurant with my husband, I completely relate to everything she says and find it in no way pouty, whiney or complaining. The reality is the business is tough, but it is twice as tough being the one who has to pull yourself and everyone else up by their bootstraps when everything is going wrong, fix it while playing shrink to everyone, and get none of the credit for it at the end of the day for anything. After reading the book I emailed the author to tell her how much I enjoyed it. She took the time out of her busy schedule to personally answer me back which I think is another testimate to how attentive she is, not only to "the chef's" needs, her customers needs, her employee needs and just some stranger who happened to like her book. As for the book this one has been compared to "Kitchen Confidentials," I enjoyed it much more because of its ability to relay the raw emotions of what happens in the restaurant business without all of the trash talk and vulgarity.
Rating:
Summary: Wife of the Chef
Review: I devoured "Wife of the Chef" in about 7 hours. I can't remember the last time I've laughed out loud so often while reading. As a former chef and restaurant manager, I was particularly impressed by Febbroriello's ability to capture the frenetic--and often hilarious--pace of the dining room on a busy night. I loved her depiction of the frequently unfinished--yet completely understandable, to them--shorthand conversations barked among staff in the middle of service. Anyone who's worked in a restaurant will appreciate this glimpse of what the customers aren't usually privy to. I've been to Metro Bis and loved the food and ambiance. This book provides another perspective that makes the restaurant even more compelling to return to. Recently, I've recommended this as an entertaining summer read on a beach or a plane. I didn't want to put it down. Linda C. in California
Rating:
Summary: Wife of the Chef
Review: I devoured "Wife of the Chef" in about 7 hours. I can't remember the last time I've laughed out loud so often while reading. As a former chef and restaurant manager, I was particularly impressed by Febbroriello's ability to capture the frenetic--and often hilarious--pace of the dining room on a busy night. I loved her depiction of the frequently unfinished--yet completely understandable, to them--shorthand conversations barked among staff in the middle of service. Anyone who's worked in a restaurant will appreciate this glimpse of what the customers aren't usually privy to. I've been to Metro Bis and loved the food and ambiance. This book provides another perspective that makes the restaurant even more compelling to return to. Recently, I've recommended this as an entertaining summer read on a beach or a plane. I didn't want to put it down. Linda C. in California
Rating: 
Summary: fascinating
Review: I once wanted to be a chef, later I fantasized about opening a bed and breakfast somewhere. I grew out of it but reading Wife of the Chef makes me glad I did. The restaurant business is a tough one and only the strong survive. The author talks about what it takes to get the business going and what goes into keeping it alive. Crazed waiters, drunken dishwashers, obnoxious diners are all part of the daily show. The pace that the author and her husband keep up is so tough that I got tired just thinking about it. On the down side, Courtney some times comes off as being a bit too cranky and so much of a perfectionist that it must be very trying to work for her. The best thing about this peek into the kitchen is the way that the husband, the chef was described. He's so endearing that I can overlook Courtney's apparently endless grouchiness with the rest of the world.
Rating:
Summary: Best I've read in ages
Review: I owned a restaurant in rural Iowa with my husband from 1996-2000. He was the cook (didn't have chef's training, just a lot of experience, as did I). I so totally understand every single thing she writes. The working relationship did lead to a divorce, and I have my place back now. I can understand both sides of the coin.
I've done everything she has. Organization, prepping, cooking, ordering, scheduling, dealing with catastrophes, glitches, menus, bartending, anything. You name it, I've done it too. I've been laughing out loud alone to the point where I had tears in my eyes.
It's all the truth, I feel like I could have written this book. If you want to read about life behind a good restaurant, this is it. It's such an amazing book.
I give my best kudos out to her for not only writing it, but being able to deal with working for the chef. Her humor is amazing.
Rating:
Summary: amen, sister!
Review: I read this book because the title jumped out at me, I too, am the wife of a chef. I do not run the restaurant with my husband but I can relate to almost all of her stories, while some people may think she is complaining, she is just telling it like it is. There is no glamour in being the chef's wife, we are not living out the food network dream here, folks. I actually sent her an e-mail thanking her for putting pen to paper. I thought it was wonderful that someone actually wrote a book about it (and had time to do so!!). If there is a chef in your family, or your spouse is a chef - then I would say its required reading. It might make a good disclaimer for chefs to hand out to potential dates as well-- girls, its not easy!!
Rating:
Summary: Bravo
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed the author's open and honest portrayal of the restaurant industry. She candidly describes what her life is like in an upbeat and humorous manner. Anyone whom thinks otherwise simply doesn't understand the message of the book. This is a hardworking woman deserving of credit not only for her daily struggles but for her exposure of serious issues in her field. The discredit of the author due to her youth seems to be born of jealousy. I highly recommend this book to those readers willing to explore the highs and lows of this challenging food related lifestyle.
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