I liked Save Me the Plums by Ruth Reichl. In that book, she tells the story of her time at Gourmet Magazine. Garlic and Sapphires tells the story of her life before Gourmet when she served as the restaurant critic for The New York Times having moved from similar food-related journalism in Los Angeles. She survived for six years, and her stories of creating alter egos along with her disguises are funny but also fascinating. Her first character is her mother, designed along with her mother's best friend.

Reichl includes copies of some of her more controversial columns as well as beloved family recipes. In the end, it was her desire to cook for her family that led her to leave the Times.

I was surprised at the power of the restaurant critic of the Times. Famous people would call her to get restaurant recommendations on a regular basis and she was interviewed by news outlets big and small.

Reichl has had a fascinating career all around: I didn't realize she was a judge on Top Chef Masters. I may have to check it out. Meanwhile, I am eager to try her novels including the new one that is set in Paris. ( )

Don't read if descriptions of food sliding around in your mouth grosses you out. ( )

I *LOVED* this book!!! I really enjoyed the stories (which were what got me interested in the book in the first place), but there were all these recipes she shared.... and the descriptions of the various restaurants Ruth Reichl visits--those are so exciting to read about! Many of them are still around, others not so much. I'm excited to read her other books as well! ( )

her time as food critic at NYT - lots of disguises ( )

I tried to stretch this book out as long as possible. I would only read it in the perfect context, which for me was the 4 o'clock sunshine of our living room with my feet propped on the coffee table and a mug of something tasty at my side. Cloudy day? No clean mugs? Wait for tomorrow, and maybe it would deserve a little bit of this book.

This arrangement couldn't be sustained. This morning I woke up depressed and unhappy, and instantly I knew that this book was what the day needed if it was to be salvaged. The talk of food, of change, the memories of New York - all of it felt like the author was a very close friend taking me out for lunch in order to lift my spirits. And it worked. ( )