Yes, Chef

A Memoir

By: Marcus Samuelsson

Narrated by: Marcus Samuelsson

JAMES BEARD AWARD NOMINEE • NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY VOGUE • NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

“One of the great culinary stories of our time.”—Dwight Garner, The New York Times

It begins with a simple ritual: Every Saturday afternoon, a boy who loves to cook walks to his grandmother’s house and helps her prepare a roast chicken for dinner. The grandmother is Swedish, a retired domestic. The boy is Ethiopian and adopted, and he will grow up to become the world-renowned chef Marcus Samuelsson. This book is his love letter to food and family in all its manifestations.

Marcus Samuelsson was only three years old when he, his mother, and his sister—all battling tuberculosis—walked seventy-five miles to a hospital in the Ethiopian capital city of Addis Adaba. Tragically, his mother succumbed to the disease shortly after she arrived, but Marcus and his sister recovered, and one year later they were welcomed into a loving middle-class white family in Göteborg, Sweden. It was there that Marcus’s new grandmother, Helga, sparked in him a lifelong passion for food and cooking with her pan-fried herring, her freshly baked bread, and her signature roast chicken. From a very early age, there was little question what Marcus was going to be when he grew up.

Yes, Chef chronicles Marcus Samuelsson’s remarkable journey from Helga’s humble kitchen to some of the most demanding and cutthroat restaurants in Switzerland and France, from his grueling stints on cruise ships to his arrival in New York City, where his outsize talent and ambition finally come together at Aquavit, earning him a coveted New York Times three-star rating at the age of twenty-four. But Samuelsson’s career of “chasing flavors,” as he calls it, had only just begun—in the intervening years, there have been White House state dinners, career crises, reality show triumphs and, most important, the opening of the beloved Red Rooster in Harlem. At Red Rooster, Samuelsson has fufilled his dream of creating a truly diverse, multiracial dining room—a place where presidents and prime ministers rub elbows with jazz musicians, aspiring artists, bus drivers, and nurses. It is a place where an orphan from Ethiopia, raised in Sweden, living in America, can feel at home.

With disarming honesty and intimacy, Samuelsson also opens up about his failures—the price of ambition, in human terms—and recounts his emotional journey, as a grown man, to meet the father he never knew. Yes, Chef is a tale of personal discovery, unshakable determination, and the passionate, playful pursuit of flavors—one man’s struggle to find a place for himself in the kitchen, and in the world.

Praise for Yes, Chef

“Such an interesting life, told with touching modesty and remarkable candor.”—Ruth Reichl

“Marcus Samuelsson has an incomparable story, a quiet bravery, and a lyrical and discreetly glittering style—in the kitchen and on the page. I liked this book so very, very much.”—Gabrielle Hamilton

“Plenty of celebrity chefs have a compelling story to tell, but none of them can top [this] one.”—The Wall Street Journal

“Red Rooster’s arrival in Harlem brought with it a chef who has reinvigorated and reimagined what it means to be American. In his famed dishes, and now in this memoir, Marcus Samuelsson tells a story that reaches past racial and national divides to the foundations of family, hope, and downright good food.”—President Bill Clinton

©2012 Marcus Samuelsson (P)2012 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"The Red Rooster's arrival in Harlem brought with it a chef who has reinvigorated and reimagined what it means to be American. In his famed dishes, and now in this memoir, Marcus Samuelsson tells a story that reaches past racial and national divides to the foundations of family, hope, and downright good food." (President Bill Clinton)

"I've read a lot of chefs' books, but never anything like this one. Marcus Samuelsson has had such an interesting life, and he talks about it with touching modesty and remarkable candor. I couldn't put this book down." (Ruth Reichl, best-selling author of Tender at the Bone)

"Marcus Samuelsson has an incomparable story, a quiet bravery, and a lyrical and discreetly glittering style - in the kitchen and on the page. I liked this book so very, very much." (Gabrielle Hamilton, best-selling author of Blood, Bones, & Butter)

Solid Audio Book

Would you consider the audio edition of Yes, Chef to be better than the print version?

N/A

Who was your favorite character and why?

Marcus as the whole story revolved around him.

Have you listened to any of Marcus Samuelsson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

His return to his homeland Ethopia.

Any additional comments?

Very good book and narration.

Such An Inspriing and Delicious Read!

I enjoyed listening to Marcus Samuelsson's recount his journey to becoming a top chef and his joys and heartbreaks along the way. I found his enormous drive and ambition and courage inspiring, despite unfortunate setbacks, heartbreaking events, and blatant discrimination he encountered.

I did think his behavior was absolutely despicable at times, especially in his early treatment of Zoe. However, one could chalk this up to youth and immaturity, since when he was somewhat older and wiser he tried to make things right. It also helped that he had an outstanding mother to instill good character. He seemed very passionate in his dedication, work ethic and humility on the job as he learned the ropes and put in his dues. On the other hand, I couldn't help but notice a constant and persistent undertone of self-importance and ego. Perhaps this is a necessary trait to be a successful chef and leader, though.

Samuelsson's thick Swedish accent was a bit distracting at times, as well as his creative pronunciation of many English words. At key points in the story, I thought it was a big plus having him as the reader, since he really displayed the genuine feelings of heartbreak, anger, confusion or joy he had experienced.

Overall this book was really enjoyable, and absolutely delicious!

An amazing & enchanting tale

What made the experience of listening to Yes, Chef the most enjoyable?

I love that it was narrated by Marcus himself. It made it so much more real to me.

What did you like best about this story?

Marcus talked about many aspects of his life. I loved all of them, from when he was a child (cooking with Helga) to teenage years (Kiss), to more resent years as a chef. I admire his trip to Ethiopia and the good he is doing there. All of it is superb.

Have you listened to any of Marcus Samuelsson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have seen him on "Chopped." I've been a fan of Food Network before; for some reason, I remember him in the early days (1997-ish?) of Food Network. Perhaps when he was at Aqua Vie? He is a fascinating both as a chef and a true person. As always, Marcus is admirable.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The trip to Ethiopia and the gratitude he has for his Swedish parents.

Any additional comments?

Enjoy!!

A compelling story that doesn't spare the author

I became interested in Marcus Samuelsson after seeing him as a judge on the Food Network show Chopped. I have since seen him in several other venues, including his recent victory as a mentor on The Taste. I purchased this book because as a dedicated home cook always learning about new cuisines I wanted to know more about him and his background.

His story is compelling, from the death of his mother taking him and his sister to a hospital, to his adoption by a Swedish couple, to his entry into the culinary world and his triumphs and failures, one gets a tremendous respect for this man. I recently purchased his cookbook "Soul of a new Cuisine" in hard-copy and am plowing my way through it for new ideas.

Not that interesting

I have given the book 4 stars because it's a well written book, good narrator (author) and a lot of other people seemed to like it. I did not want to discourage anyone from checking it out but for me I got nothing out of book. Yes it's a rags to riches story and the author became a great chef. I am just not interested in this subject and the rags to riches part seems common to me. I was not inspired and took nothing away for myself in terms of motivation. I did finish the whole book. I can see where some other people would like it. Stay with what you love and what you were born to do and you will be a success. Also going off to see the world and leave your daughter and her mother without a father while you pursue your own dream maybe the type of sacrifice one simply has to make to succeed.

It wanders

The first half is especially great. The second half wanders a bit. I did love hearing Samuelsson himself reading it. Very enjoyable.

A real treat!

I can't really say what I enjoyed more, Marcus' personal story, the food story or his philosophy regarding both! I don't consider myself a foodie, and so was quite surprised at how appealing I found this book. The author's voice, though sometimes a tad difficult to understand, (not often or much) added a delightful flavor.

Eye opening story of a man and a passion

Eye opening story of the ranks of professional kitchen work and a man with a passionate dream that in the end humility and hard work won for him. A unique journey that after listening you feel part of on a deeper level. Food gives us roots and memories. I love too that this book was narrated by the author. It adds so much dimension for the listener. Highly recommend this listen, an absorbing life story. I hope to visit his restaurant one day!

Must for Marcus fans

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I really enjoyed this book. I connected with it on many levels. My Dad's Mom died from TB
When he was eight. He and his 3 brothers wee not as lucky and were shipped to Canada
And ended up being laborers on a farm in harsh conditions. I was raised with the same work ethic. Also I associate with his love of diversity in NY.

What other book might you compare Yes, Chef to and why?

None

Which scene was your favorite?

Many

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Both. Laugh at the screw up and cry due to kindness, esp of his birth Mom and adoptive parents.

Any additional comments?

Marcus thanks for sharing!

inspirational

I loved his story, and all the things he went through to get to were he is now. great story hard work pays off.