Fork Fight!: Whisks, Risks, and Conflicts Behind the Restaurant Curtain

by Mark H Brezinski, Mark Stuertz (Contributor)

The most compelling, insightful, and white-knuckled journey behind the restaurant curtain since Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential. Mark H. Brezinski is a forty-five-year veteran of the dynamic restaurant industry. A graduate of the famed School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University, Mark went on to create or co-create multiple nationally acclaimed restaurant companies. His experiences span the globe in search of culinary discoveries and inspirations with industry icons like the late Norman Brinker, Paul Fleming, Phil Romano, and chefs Michael Mina and Mark Miller. Mark's restaurants have featured an international buffet of foods that include Indian, Italian, French, and Vietnamese. His travels have taken him from Tokyo to Tuscany, from San Francisco to Shanghai, from Mumbai to Maui. This book takes you to all of these places and more, while telling behind-the-scenes stories--sometimes funny, often heartbreaking, and never without lessons learned. The journey is a remarkable tag-along to the highs and lows of being an entrepreneur and the self-discovery that comes with each stop. Mark resides in Dallas and, never one to leave a stone unturned, is currently founder of his latest concept, Bizzy, which features his vision of better fast food.

1 pages, Audio CD

Published April 18, 2023

Reviews

[Bookworm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cannot remember how I came across this book but I was interested. I enjoy memoirs of people who work in the food industry (even though I have no such experience myself) so I thought this would be fun. Unlike some other memoirs, I did not know of Brezinski's background in creating several companies. So it seemed like this could be an interesting read.

Brezinski takes the reader through many of these and cover a lot of many of the places he was involved with. The highs and lows, the successes and failures, which to his credit, Brezinski does acknowledge. I've never heard of many of these eateries (probably because I'm not a foodie-type plus the precarious nature of the restaurant business, etc.).

Overall, it was pretty dull. If you're into works like 'Kitchen Confidential' that might be something you would like but without any personal connection or much knowledge of many of these eateries or Brezinski himself, this was rather dull to read. If you have experience or worked in any of these places, then maybe this might have read better.

If you're interested in a path like Brezinski's, have a specific interest in any of his operations, etc. then this might work for you. Otherwise, as a "general" read for someone who has a casual read, this is probably skippable.

Borrowed from the library and that was best for me.

[Max Pantalena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Authentic and entertaining memoir about a serial restaurant entrepreneur in Dallas. It’s a bonus if you know Dallas and the restaurants, but even if you don’t the story is raw and honest about the highs and lows in the business.