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If You Can't Take the Heat
- Narrated by: Dan Bittner
- Length: 8 hrs and 3 mins
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If You Can't Take the Heat
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Publisher's Summary
From James Beard Award-winning author Michael Ruhlman, a coming-of-age story about finding a new life and love in the kitchen…and trying not to get burned along the way.
When high school football star Theo Claverback breaks his leg just weeks after a devastating break-up, he’s forced to call an audible on his summer plans and put his college ones on hold. He soon finds himself in the most unlikely of places for a jock on crutches: the kitchen of an upscale French restaurant, where he’ll work as a prep cook while his heart and leg heal.
But it’s in the kitchen where Theo finds new purpose and a new romance. As he becomes a trusted employee to Chef and is welcomed into his inner circle, Theo begins to discover the true costs of running a restaurant—and what happens when you get into hot water with the wrong people.
Set in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1980, If You Can't Take the Heat is a gritty look inside the belly of an upscale kitchen where love and danger boil behind closed doors.
What the critics say
"Food writer Ruhlman employs exacting verisimilitude to bring the heat of the kitchen and sensory details of the dishes to life in this vivacious debut."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"This human story is the book’s real strength, as is the care given to detailing the operations inside a restaurant kitchen, lending power and authenticity."—Booklist
"A refreshingly different take on the romance genre, written from the male perspective, and a great purchase for all libraries."—School Library Journal
What listeners say about If You Can't Take the Heat
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- G. N.
- 2024-06-08
Disappointing. Do Not Recommend.
I love Michael Ruhlman’s work, his writing on food, chefs and the restaurant industry is always enjoyable. This review is not intended as a personal criticism of his talent but of the book.
This was a truly disappointing read. The main characters are incredibly unsympathetic and almost painful to tolerate towards the last third of the book, without going into spoilers; the plot feels lagging at points and the pacing sometimes throws you for a loop, making you feel confused and lost in place. The details of the kitchen work and the cooks characters are the only truly enjoyable part of this. Again, without spoilers, I’d have loved to learn more about the chefs and cooks’ stories. I feel so disappointed, I would return this in a heartbeat if I could. I advise you to keep your credit and money and read some of Ruhlman’s other excellent non-fiction work instead.
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