"Care and Feeding," by Laurie Woolever -- a restaurant world memoir

I apologize for the long gap in posting. I just finished reading a fascinating if sometimes painful to read memoir, "Care and Feeding" (Ecco, 2025), by Laurie Woolever. The author has worked a long time in various aspects of the restaurant/fine dining industry, from cooking and serving to writing about the restaurant world in various publications. After some autobiography of her early years, the book focuses on her years as an assistant to, at different points, two of the most famous American chefs, Mario Batali and Anthony Bourdain. Some readers who are interested in the restaurant world will know that Batali was difficult to work with at times, and his restaurant days ended badly when he was exposed as a sexual harasser and abuser. Bourdain was a much more congenial person to work for/with (Woolever also wrote two books with Bourdain). He had his issues, and was sometimes demanding, but was kind and considerate and respectful as well. Sadly, after an extremely successful career as a chef, author, TV host, and more, he shocked the food world by committing suicide. Woolever has had her own issues throughout the years, related to insecurities, addictions and problems in her relationships, and she reveals these issues unsparingly. I applaud her for her candid writing. Her descriptions of her life are detailed and sometimes hard to read. There were times when I was reading this book that I wanted to urgently advise her to change some of her unhealthy habits (addictions, relationships, etc.). But she is clearly also extremely talented, competent, and thoughtful, and in recent years she has gained control over most of her less-than-healthy habits, has had a loving relationship with her son, has continued her career in the food world, and has reached a level of peace. For anyone who is interested in the world of fine dining and its characters and events, this book should be on the "must read" list.