PX This. – The Revised Edition

by Abbe Diaz

PX This. (diary of the "Maître d’ to the Stars") is the witty, irreverent (star-studded) four-year journal of a struggling commercial-artist/fashion-designer moonlighting as a maître d' at some of Manhattan’s most renowned restaurants. It is a lighthearted, humorous, poignant, and uniquely insightful romp through the nightly playgrounds of some of New York’s (and Hollywood’s) most glamorous and elite, as viewed from the front podium.
You’ll laugh! You’ll cry! It’s "the bible of the [NYC Food & Beverage fine dining] industry!"

• "Restaurateur Jean-Georges Vongerichten is so annoyed by the success of his former Maitre D' Abbe Diaz's new tell-all book, he is forcing his employees to sign confidentiality agreements. They were also banned from discussing [the book] at work." – The New York Post
 
• "Per Variety, 'Daily Show' correspondents Jason Jones and Samantha Bee have inked a deal with CBS to write and star in a sitcom about a celebrity chef and the two women who run his empire… [But] it turns out… Abbe Diaz has spent over a year shopping a treatment based on her own book… assuming the producers can find someone fierce enough to play the role of Diaz."
  — New York Magazine
 
• "… [Abbe Diaz] kept a diary in which she vented all her frustration — and named names."– msn.com
 
• "… that's your book? Great… it's about time somebody wrote a book like that…" 
– Bobby Flay
 
• "I liked your book. I always knew [withheld] was like that… I’m just glad it wasn't me!"
– Drew Nieporent
 
• "…[My book] will be nothing like your book…" – John deLucie, Chef/Author, The Hunger

• Salman Rushdie is a "fan" of PX This by abbe diaz on Facebook®

468 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 15, 2004

About the author

Abbe Diaz is a freelance commercial-artist, designer/dressmaker, and restaurant consultant. She has worked in the restaurant/bar industry for nearly 25 years, with numerous stints throughout the New York dining/party scene that include: Limelight, Palladium, Tunnel, Club USA, Coffee Shop, Spy, Cafe Tabac, The Strand (Miami Beach), Mercer Kitchen, Ilo, Lotus, and Theo. She served as the opening maître d’ for The Park, Smith, and 66.

She is proud to have had the opportunity to work under such nightlife arbiters as: Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Brian McNally, Jonathan Morr, Peter Gatien, Eric Goode, and Sean Macpherson.

Diaz gained a B.A. in Economics from Rutgers College, Rutgers University – New Brunswick. She was further educated as a non-matriculated Design student at the Fashion Institute of Technology, in NYC, where she currently resides.

PX This has been lauded as “the bible of the [NYC] industry,” and its author, Abbe Diaz, has been featured in various media outlets such as The New York Daily News, The New York Post, msn.com, The Morning Show (Australia), CBS’s The Insider, The New York Observer, Blackbook, Time Out New York, Perez Hilton, Gawker, LXTV-NBC, NBC Chicago, New York magazine, Mediabistro, hamptons.com, and foodchannel.com, just to name a few.

Reviews

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of a young woman trying to making into the fashion design business. And like many individuals trying to break into a field she works a full time job that she doesn’t like. And in her spare time she does everything she can think of to make her dream come true. But anyone who has been in her position knows it’s the things that you put up with at that full time job that drive you to the edge. This book is full of funny stories about bosses, boyfriends, and all the things that sometimes go wrong when you’re trying to make a dream reality. If you are working night and day to make a dream come true, then you will definitely relate to and enjoy this book.

[Ramona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abbe Diaz writes a gripping account of her life working front-of-the house in some of Manhattan's swankiest restaurants. If you have ever wanted to know how celebrities really live-- and eat!-- this book is for you. Even if you don't care for celebrity culture, the life and times of a young woman working in these types of high-end places is a wild ride you won't forget.

Diaz can be over-dramatic at times, claiming "It's just dinner" on one page, and on the next page dishing out complaints about her bosses, co-workers, Gwenyth Paltrow and every other "person extraordinaire" to walk by; however, her writing is chalk full of the kind of insights and details one pines for. Her own personal slangs and idioms she includes throughout the book add a humorous flare that kept putting a smile back on my face-- "paparozzoo" "ho-stess" & "sugar daddy freakazoid", just to name a few. There's so many gems in this diary, that I want to read it again, just to make sure I caught it all.

We often hear the stories of people that have already "made it", and in retrospect it seems like these people somehow had a charmed life. What I love about "PX This" is that she shows you the real ins-and-outs, the folds, the long nights, the self doubt, the trials of tribulations of actually "making it." This is the raw, undiluted version of living and working in New York City, while working on a dream. (Today, Abbe Diaz is also a successful clothing designer.)

The writer is hilarious, charming, and brazen. From an encounter with Sarah Jessica Parker in the ladies room, to getting totally checked out by Mark Walburg, to lunching with Azzedine Alaïa, Diaz takes you through the twists and turns of New York City dining rooms, and brings you back, hungry for more.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the funniest, most insightful, and shockingly honest books I have ever read. The book is written in a unique voice, which might be hard to get if you're much older (although my dad is 65 and he also loved it) or are not that into boldly brazen and somewhat raunchy humorous writing. I don't think that you have to be really into restaurants to appreciate it, but if you are (like I am), you will likely get a lot more out of it. If you dine out alot and are fond of famous chefs and restaurateurs (like Jean-Georges, Keith and Brian McNally, Graydon Carter, etc.) then this book is an absolute eye-opener that will change the way you view "hott" restaurants forever.

Also worth mentioning is the fact that even though I originally read it because of the restaurant angle (this book is very well-known in NYC), I actually found the author's experiences as a struggling artist in the high-fashion industry even more interesting and heart-wrenching. And even better than that were her hilarious but profound views of life and people in general.

Basically, if you love celebrities, fabulous restaurants, NYC nightlife, couture fashion, or just good, funny, endearing, boot-strapping, amazingly inspirational stories, then I think you will love it as much as I did. But if you don't like or have any curiosity about any of those things, this book is probably not the best choice for you. I can see how some people might find it depressing, because the author (whether she knows it or not) actually lives a fantastic life that others can only dream of.

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

PX This is the bible of the high-end New York restaurant industry. I have worked for one of the very same companies that this author has, and she is a hero for writing this brave, smart, and insanely funny book. Right after this book was published, all current and future employees of Jean-Georges's worldwide restaurants were made to sign confidentiality agreements, and we were all threatened with termination if anyone so much as mentioned this book anywhere on company property. That alone should give you some idea of the incredible stories that are exposed inside, and that's just the tip of the iceberg! Watching this company over the years use their influence with the media and the "foodie fans" to try and squelch the unfavorable exposure within this book, has been one of the most fascinating and hysterical turn of events in the history of this industry.

Aside from the great satisfaction of watching my former employers squirm in fear and outrage, however, is the fact that this is one of the most hilarious, heart-warming, and inspirational stories I have ever read. As much as I loved it, there is so much more to this book than over-hyped Jean-Georges and his Idiot Right-Hand Woman, "Loser." Believe it or not, they actually end up being the boring part, when you get down to the real meat of the story.

PX This is by far one of the best, funniest, amazing, and most entertaining books I have ever read. Can't wait to see what comes next.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book. It's actually a revised version, so technically this is the second time I'm reading it. It's warm, funny, poignant, but best of all it's real. Literally, the whole thing is a diary. By one very cool, smart woman. Not what I expected at all.
It actually starts out superficially, but gets engrossing soon enough. It reminds me of what I first thought when I saw Boogie Nights what with all the goofy clothes and dialogue. Then at the end you realize it was all done that way for contrast and juxtaposition.
But this book is better, because it's real and actually pertinent to life. I don't know about you, but I never appeared in a porn or tried to steal drugs from a crazy asiaphile.
I thought the writing style was great too. Takes a little getting used to, but the book is ultimately better for it.

[Thomas John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. It's very cleverly written, and very entertaining. At first, it seems a little superficial, but as you get into it, the intelligence and dedication of the author begin to emerge, and the book takes on deeper themes. Abbe has fascinating insights into human nature, and her story shows the value of staying true to yourself and never giving up on your dream. Her drive, commitment and courage (p.p.s. last comma purposely omitted) are truly inspirational, and I found myself smiling and thorougly satisfied when I read the last page. You can't help but applaud as the book comes to its conclusion.

This was a great read, and I highly recommend it.

[Megalion · Rating 1 out of 5]

Witty? Try incredibly self-absorbed and boring.

I love memoirs by people in the service industry but this reads like the diary of a high school, gum smacking valley girl minus the ""Oh my gawd!!""

Free kindle download that I abandoned after 18 pages

[Get Red PR Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished the revised edition this morning. Abbe Diaz is a funny girl. Best restaurant industry books since Kitchen Confidential.

[UpstateNYgal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not great, but I almost always finish what I've started.