«Genuinely touching, wonderfully revealing» NEW YORKER
Garlic and Sapphires is Ruth Reichl's incredible account of the many disguises she uses to dine undetected when she takes on the position of restaurant critic for the New York Times. Reichl knows that to be a good critic she must remain anonymous - but her photo circulates in every restaurant in the city, whether four-star or low-star, and thus begins an extraordinary - and funny - game of disguise, keeping even her husband and son in the dark.
Her disguise as Molly, a humble blonde in an off-beige Armani suit, when she comes to review Le Cirque, leads to a double review of the restaurant. She first eats there as Molly, and then, when treated and pampered as Ruth, the New York Times food critic. There's also the eccentric and mysterious redhead that forces her husband to develop a terrifying - and reassuring - attraction. She becomes Brenda, the earth mother, Chloe, the seductress, and even Miriam, her late mother.
What is even more remarkable about Reichl's espionage games is that as she assumes these various disguises, she changes not only physically but also in character, revealing how outer appearance can affect our inner nature, expectations, and appetites.
Pages: 352, Dimensions: 12.9x12.9cm
