Copyright Phaidon
I’ve been lucky to befriend a chef or two in my travels and always value their restaurant recommendations. So when I saw this new book a couple of days ago, I snatched it up. “Where Chefs Eat” (Phaidon; $19.95) brings together the insider picks of more than 400 chefs from around the world, a compilation of more than 2,300 places to eat edited by British journalist Joe Warwick. Eight designations usefully categorize restaurants by breakfast, late night, local favorite, high end, bargain, regular neighborhood, “wish I’d opened” and worth the trip. I’m gratified to say that many concur with my own choices (compiled in the Harper Collection) such as Keens Steakhouse in New York, Lucques in Los Angeles, Boulevard in San Francisco, L’Ami Jean in Paris, Le Café Anglais in London, Icebergs Dining Room and Bar in Sydney and Fook Lam Moon in Hong Kong.
As engaging as I am finding this guide, it would be more useful if listings were alphabetical and if the categories were more clearly highlighted. Still, I will keep this as a permanent addition to my reference shelf. About the size of a cobblestone and with definite heft, “Where Chefs Eat” won’t be in my carry-on bag, but I look forward to the app, scheduled to come out in late January.
– A.H.
VIDEO: Joe Warwick talks about “Where Chefs Eat”
Leave a Reply