Food 2.0: Secrets from the Chef Who Fed Google

by Charlie Ayers

In a cutting edge cookbook for the Internet generation, Google s legendary founding super-chef, Charlie Ayers, tells you everything you need to know about the newest nutrition brainfood. He outlines the basics on how the right foods can transform your mind and body, and then teaches you how to stock your kitchen with the healthiest foods available. Raw, organic, and fermented is Charlie s mantra, which is reflected in more than 90 easy-to-prepare recipes, whether it s a Kick-start Breakfast, a Power Lunch, or a Light, Bright Dinner. And, following the world-famous formula Charlie used at Google headquarters, the meals and snacks are designed to feed your brain exactly what it needs at different points throughout the workday. From hipsters looking to think more creatively to high-fliers who need that extra edge for success to new moms and dads, looking to repair the damage of myriad sleepless nights, Food 2.0 has the recipe for delicious food for sharper thinking no matter who you are or what you do.

Genres: Cooking, Cookbooks, Food, Health

256 pages, Hardcover

First published April 21, 2008

Reviews

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"This book gives those of us who wish we could work for Google a look into the yummy side of the Googlplex. The recipes are quite healthy and the preparations all seem very easy to follow. Truthfully, I haven't cooked a lot out of this book, but it has been a good browser. [return][return]The best cookbooks, in my opinion, have [return]a. Beautiful photographs (this has the awesome DK layout and style)[return]b. Stories that place the food in real life or culture (the little stories are engaging and interesting)[return]c. Lessons that help to move my cooking forward (the section on fermented food really got me thinking)[return]d. Ingredient lists I've heard of and can easily find[return][return]This book has all my favorite features of a great cookbook. I hope to find some new favorite recipes to try out on my family."

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

My favorite parts of this book were the peeks into the inner workings of Google. There were a few practical and very good ideas in here, but for the most part, the recipes were way too high-falutin' to be helpful for me. This book is geared more for people who live in metropolitan areas with lots of organic choices and environmentally conscious retailers. There are not many of those here in central AR. We don't even have recycling pickup (I know, we're still in the 19th century).
The thing I DO like about this book is its focus on eating for maximum energy and brain power. I learned some new things from it that I think will begin to be part of our eating lifestyle. I did mark about 10 different pages in it to make notes from.
P.S. The Spinach Latkes recipe was wonderful. My oldest son (and pickiest eater) says he wants it for his next birthday dinner. Happy Hanukkah! :)

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book. The book is half food information, and half recipes. I think it would have worked better if the information was mixed in with the recipes. But instead, we get the information first. There wasn't as much discussion about being a chef at google as I would have liked. There are definitely some handy tips and tricks for the lazy cook.

This is an aesthetically pleasing book more than an informative one. There are times when you want the author to say more, but you know it would destroy the "beauty of the page".

Buy this as a cookbook, not for an information source. There are better books out there that approach the whole "organic, raw" mentality. But if you're looking for some funky recipes, and maybe a good coffee table book, this would be a good choice!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable to flip through, not a lot of meat, though. It's written in kind of a "blog" style, I'd say. It's just kind of a lot of random thoughts on food from the guy who was the head chef for Google. A lot of it is just a sentence or two on his food philosophies. It seems like kind of a lazy way to write a book. There are also some recipes in the back, but none that I felt compelled to make.

[JDK1962 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Average, for Google fan-boys/girls only. Even then...meh. VERY opinionated chef. Yes, I'm all for buying locally and organic, but make your point and give it a rest. Also, thought this might be more "what does a geek eat after a hard day crunching code, as an alternative to ordering a pizza" but no such luck. I didn't find much here that made me want to go into the kitchen.

[Maryjane · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book from the Google chef has nice pictures and, surprisingly, mostly vegetarian recipes. I have made the peach smoothie (pretty good) and I have others I have wanted to try (butternut squash chili saute{?) but I have not quite gotten to them.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a traditional cookbook, although there's no reason to expect it to be traditional. Gives a bit of a glimpse of the inner workings of Google in the early days of the company, plus some tasty recipe. There's a really tasty sweet potato biscuit recipe and a lot of good general ideas.

[Rogue Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written, lovely photos, and beautifully designed. Charlie Ayers' passion for good food, food that feeds the brain and the soul is compelling and inspiring. What a good hire for Google. As employee #54, he must have separated with a fortune.

[melanie (lit*chick) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the behind-the-scenes at Google parts. The recipes were okay - nothing new or that i felt i had to try. Emphasis on fresh ingredients, shopping locally....

[Adam Rifkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, Charlie, is there anything you CAN'T do? :)

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

There tips and techniques. And a fair amount about do-ahead prep. Some of the recipes look tasty but nothing I'm eager to try.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

arugula/beet salad-yum!