'Yes, Chef': Harlem Restaurateur Dishes

By
We may earn a commission from links on this page.

(The Root) — Famed chef and restaurateur Marcus Samuelsson talks about his life in and out of the kitchen in the new memoir Yes, Chef, which was released on June 26. The Ethiopian-American cook recalls his mother's untimely death from tuberculosis and how his grandmother’s upbringing led him on the path to culinary success.

From his burgeoning fascination with food in his grandmother’s kitchen to his success running a multinational hospitality company, Samuelsson has defined, for some, the American success story. The Root's editor-in-chief, Henry Louis Gates Jr., calls the memoir "a delicious read," while former President Bill Clinton commends Samuelsson for his inspiring story of family and food.

But not all reviewers are speaking praise, including fellow Harlem chef Eddie Huang, who blasted Samuelsson in a recent New York Observer review, claiming that the chef is not in touch with the true Harlem.

Advertisement

Samuelsson's Yes, Chef is now available online and in bookstores.

Previous recommendation: Lianne La Havas Readies Her British Invasion.

Got ideas for The Root Recommends? Send them to recommendations@theroot.com.