Misfit Chef: Stories & Recipes from Memory by Christopher J. DeStefano Book Review

This book is written with a different approach as how the book is laid out. Each chapter is a representation of a memory from his days at working at Christopher’s Table. It was a bakery, food shop, wine bar, and restaurant from 2008 to 2014. He begins the book by explaining how he didn’t fit into the chef definitions and he felt different from the rest. He explained how he also came out as gay and he struggled with his culinary identity. He shared how he viewed food as a conversation catalyst that would bring people together. He believes that meals can be special moments with people who you love. It doesn’t have to be perfect. 

 

 

One of the most impact stories in the book was about Peter and how the customers just loved him. He had a great personality and strong work ethic. He connected with his two sons who they adopted and he would ask him questions. Peter had a dream of becoming a father but he wasn’t quite really to settle down with his girlfriend just yet. He shared how they celebrated his 21 birthday the way Peter wanted to. He eventually quit his job because he got engaged and needed more money. He didn’t have another job lined up and he warned him about the risk of that. He also had a battle with depression and struggled with substances. A few months later Peter was found in his bathtub overdosed. He shared how Peter would make his chicken cordon and this recipe is included in the book. 

 

 

 

 

Some of the other recipes included coconut cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, oven fried chicken, jam thumbprint cookies, whoopies pies, blackberry and thyme margarita, spicy tuna tartare on wonton crisps, and much more. 

 

 

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cooking and wants to try new recipes. I liked how he mixed in personal story from his restaurant days. He even described the reason on why he quit the business and closed it down. The stories in this book are impactful and inspiring. The pictures of the food look really tasty and I can’t wait to try some of them. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I received this book free from Tabletop Publications for my honest review.”

 

 

 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy, check it out on Amazon.com:

 

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Misfit-Chef-Stories-Recipes-Memory-ebook/dp/B0CZT4VWK1/