Marcus is a young boy from a remote village in Ethiopia. He contacts tuberculosis along with his mother and sister. His mother dies, but he and his sister survive. After spending sometime in an orphanage, Marcus and his sister are adopted by a white family from Sweden. Marcus first learns to cook in his grandmother's kitchen.
Yes, Chef
A Memoir
Marcus Samuelsson
Random House
June 2012
The book chronicles Samuelsson’s remarkable journey from the slums of Ethiopia to the streets of New York. The journey was a long and hard one. Marcus was not always accepted due to the color of his skin. He learned the hard way the protocol he must follow. His talent and ambition finally comes together at Aquavit where he earns a New York Times three- star rating. Marcus went on to open the highly acclaimed Red Rooster Restaurant in Harlan where presidents rub elbow with musicians, artist and bus drivers. . Harlan is a place where an orphan from Ethiopia, raised in Sweden, living in America, can feel at home.
Who would have thought that a young black boy from the poorest region of Ethiopia would go up to be the world renowned Chef Marcus Samuelsson. Only sacrifice and determination could achieve such a goal.
An interesting read. The author portrays all the frustrations and set backs he had to endure to reach his goal. Many would be chefs have fallen along the way, but Marcus never deterred from his chosen path. Through competition with other outstanding chefs, Marcus won the privilege of cooking President and Mrs. Obama's first state dinner, he truly has arrived.
I liked the book.
