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Erynecki
Notes from a Young Black Chef: A Memoir | Joshua David Stein, Kwame Onwuachi
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Pickpick

This memoir shines a light not just on the chef‘s life, but on the cooking and restaurant world. From NYC to rural Nigeria, the Texas gulf, and DC. He‘s hustled everything from candy bars on the subway, weed in his short stint at college, and his externship at Per Se. A little bit Kitchen Confidential, a lot of credit to author Joshua David Stein who tells Chef Onwauachi‘s story in this compelling story of family, self reliance, and perseverance

review
Soubhiville
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Pickpick

Having worked in a couple restaurants as a young adult and really disliking it, I am interested in how a person can be so passionate about becoming a chef.

Kwame reads his own audiobook, and tells his story of growing up and how he came to love cooking. The diversity of the foods he loves making and the family and places he associates with each one.

This book will make you hungry! But it‘s worth it.
(Look up content warnings)

Kerrbearlib Stacked! 4mo
76 likes4 stack adds1 comment
review
Robotswithpersonality
Notes from a Young Black Chef: A Memoir | Joshua David Stein, Kwame Onwuachi
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Pickpick

To boil this memoir down to 'a tale of triumph over adversity' feels like a disservice to all that Onwuachi shared. To give it 'happily ever after' vibes would, I think, risk readers closing the book and not thinking further about big problems that are not solved just because one Black man made it out of obscurity, gang violence, drugs, financial uncertainty, unstable and/or dangerous home life 1/?

Robotswithpersonality (not to suggest that this is THE one and only Black American experience).
I did look into the timeline between where the book ends and the publishing date, and the author bio included in the back of the book, which reinforces my belief that Onwuachi ended his story as written where and when he did to shine a stronger light on the racism, structural and individual, industrial and personal, that he has experienced. 2/?
1y
Robotswithpersonality While I was glad to see my curiousity satisfied about the journey a person goes on, from an interest in cooking to qualifying as a professional chef, I think the big takeaway is there are a few different ways to get there, and in this case it's infuriating to contemplate how many extra barriers there were in Onwuachi's early and later education and professional life, how often a lack of understanding existed, how often opportunities were that much harder to come by, how endless hustle was required because support was unavailable. 3/? 1y
Robotswithpersonality On the lighter side, I am so happy Onwuachi could recognize the toxic patterns of behaviour, the violent rage in his father and traditional fine-dining head chefs, that he did not want to bring into his life, his generation, his kitchen. That he found healing in cooking, and saw in it the ability to care for others while doing something that also comforted himself. 😌
I am grateful to him and his co-writer for creating a book whose message will stick with me. 4/5
1y
Robotswithpersonality 5/5 ⚠️ racism, mental/emotional and physical child abuse, animal death 1y
5 likes4 comments
quote
Robotswithpersonality
Notes from a Young Black Chef: A Memoir | Joshua David Stein, Kwame Onwuachi
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Rot in the restaurant system.

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Robotswithpersonality
Notes from a Young Black Chef: A Memoir | Joshua David Stein, Kwame Onwuachi
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Today's favourite phrase. 😎🦗

5 likes1 stack add
blurb
KathyWheeler
Top Chef: The Quickfire Cookbook | The Creators of Top Chef
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1: Top Chef. I want to start Queen Charlotte.
2: The mountains but I rarely get to go. I love the beach, but prefer it in the fall and winter.
3. Trivial Pursuit

#WondrousWednesday

Eggs #3 Oh I love that old game! 2y
KathyWheeler @Eggs When I was a kid, we had a similar game I loved called Go To the Head of the Class. Even as a kid, I liked those type of games. 2y
Eggs @KathyWheeler I remember Head of the Class! 1y
KathyWheeler @Eggs Yay! Someone else whose heard of it! When I‘ve mentioned it before, people look at me like I‘m making it up. 1y
14 likes4 comments
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Sharpeipup
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“Friendship is mostly fermentation. You just need the right conditions - physical proximity, natural warmth, and a little time - and affection takes root. “

Kimberlone Loved Kwame on Top Chef! 3y
Suzze Ooh! Kwame was one of the best Top Chef contestants. ❤️ 3y
32 likes2 stack adds2 comments
blurb
CoffeeNBooks
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Soubhi!! How did you know that this is the one cookbook that I really, really wanted?! Thank you so, so much my sweet friend! I can't wait to start making these recipes! @Soubhiville

Soubhiville You‘re so welcome! You mentioned it in a letter a few months ago, and I remembered 😉. Let me know how it is! 3y
mabell Such a fun cookbook (and guy!) We went to a tasting and signing for it! 3y
CoffeeNBooks @mabell That's so cool! 3y
55 likes3 comments
blurb
KathyWheeler
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I got the news today that I have skin cancer — I will be fine; the doctor says it‘s highly treatable. But “cancer” is a scary word, even when you know you‘ll be fine, so I‘m lying here in bed, wallowing, eating junk, and reading Edward Lee. I‘m giving myself today for the wallowing; tomorrow, I‘ll just have to go back to my regular self.

BookDragonNotWorm Wishing you all the best and a speedy recovery! I've been there, hopefully it's a not too invasive fix. 🫂 3y
Soubhiville Of course that‘s scary! I hope your treatment/ removal is quick and easy. Hugs. 3y
Jovy You‘re entitled to wallow! Hope all will be well. 3y
See All 19 Comments
Tamra Take care of yourself! 3y
Karkar Always good to catch it early. Sending healing thoughts your way. ❤️📚❤️ 3y
Jas16 Sending ❤️ 3y
KathyWheeler Thank you, everybody. I know I‘ll be fine and I‘m glad it was caught early. It‘s been awhile since I‘ve been to the dermatologist; I had an appointment last year, but I cancelled it because it was the middle of COVID and I was sick. I just randomly decided to call on Monday and made an appointment for Tuesday. Now here I am. (edited) 3y
BookNAround I‘m sorry. Cancer is a scary word for sure. I‘m a melanoma survivor and I still remember the day they called to tell me I had it. Best of luck to you with treatment or surgery or however they plan to get it for you. 3y
KathyWheeler @BookNAround thank you. Probably surgery. I see the surgeon on October 7. 3y
wanderinglynn Cancer is a scary word. Sending lots of positive energy & many {hugs}. 💚💚💚 3y
Megabooks Sending hugs and support. 💜💜💜 3y
KathyWheeler @wanderinglynn Thank you. I was so hoping to get back to my fitness goals, but I think I‘m really going to have to modify them. Which is fine — I was just wanting to get immediately back to a more normal life after my cat, but it looks like it might be a few more weeks before that can happen. 3y
wanderinglynn I know it must be so frustrating, and scary, and sad. A lot has happened to you in a rather short time. I feel for you. I think right now it‘s more important to focus on self-care and mental health. Life happens, we adapt, and try to keep moving forward. 💚 3y
Reggie I hope the junk includes some form of cake cookies and ice cream. Hope your spirits lift a bit tomorrow, Kathy. 3y
KathyWheeler @Reggie Cookies, ice cream, and for a little salt — chips. 😄 Thanks. 3y
KathyWheeler @wanderinglynn there‘s been other stuff going on as well. As my daughter said, “How much are we supposed to take in one sitting, Mom?” But you‘re completely right and I‘m determined that my focus will be on those areas you mentioned. 3y
EvieBee Lots of hugs, Kathy. 3y
rockpools Sending hugs and best wishes 💐 3y
Chelsea.Poole I‘m sorry you‘re going through this. Best of luck with treatment. And yes! Wallow!! Get back to it tomorrow. 🌞 3y
33 likes19 comments