Book Review: Yes, Chef

We've seen tons of chef memoirs recently - even I've gotten sick of them.  But it's hard not to be intrigued by Marcus Samuelsson's story.  Samuelsson was not even three years old when his mother walked him and his sister to the nearest town in Ethiopia in search of care for their tuberculosis affliction.  His mother succumbed to the disease and he and his sister were soon adopted and raised in Sweden.  

The Ethiopian boy raised in an all white world is a great hook, but I was most interested in the fact that he grew up in Sweden - regardless of his race.  My knowledge of Sweden goes about as far as Swedish fish so I loved learning about their unique culture and cuisine.  I also enjoyed reading a memoir about chef life that didn't revolve around crazy drug use in the kitchen.  Samuelsson went out to prove how hard work and good values are the basics for building a successful career.  You can tell he is inquisitive of and in love with food.  

He is also in love with Harlem.  Everyone should love their neighborhood the way Samuelsson loves Harlem.  He has been at the center of Harlem's second renaissance and I don't think the area would be where it's at now if it wasn't for his passion.  

3 out of 5 stars.