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WaiterRant.net Gets a Book Deal

Megan Blocker

By Megan Blocker
in Food Media & Arts

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Megan Blocker

Megan Blocker

Posted
Posted (edited)

I was perusing Gawker.com while eating my lunch, and saw this item:

Just your brief, weekly reminder that your online diary is always worth a small advance, courtesy of Publisher's Lunch:

"From the blogger of Waiter Rant, an insider's look at a waiter's life at an upscale New York area restaurant -- dubbed Kitchen Confidential at the front of the house, to Emily Takoudes at Ecco, in a pre-empt, by Farley Chase at the Waxman Literary Agency (NA)."

Here's a link to the blog itself...I've seen it referenced a few times in the forums, and will do a little reading now.

Do we think this will make a good read?

Edited by Megan Blocker (log)

"We had dry martinis; great wing-shaped glasses of perfumed fire, tangy as the early morning air." - Elaine Dundy, The Dud Avocado

Queenie Takes Manhattan

eG Foodblogs: 2006 - 2007

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MissAmy

MissAmy

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I'm really happy for him. His site has entertained me for a little over a year now, and if any blogger deserves the book deal, it's him. I am a little curious as to how his stories will translate into a book, however. It is going to be a collection of essays or a memoir or what?

-Sounds awfully rich!

-It is! That's why I serve it with ice cream to cut the sweetness!

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Megan Blocker

Megan Blocker

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Do we think this will make a good read?

No. I think it'd really pale in comparison to Kitchen Confidential.

Does the fact that it's written by someone with a front-of-house perspective make it any fresher?

"We had dry martinis; great wing-shaped glasses of perfumed fire, tangy as the early morning air." - Elaine Dundy, The Dud Avocado

Queenie Takes Manhattan

eG Foodblogs: 2006 - 2007

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Tess

Tess

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No slam against this author-- the book may turn out fine-- but I've yet to read a book based on a blog that didn't suffer from the transition, in my opinion. I'd love to hear of some examples that people think are really good.

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johnsmith45678

johnsmith45678

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Do we think this will make a good read?

No. I think it'd really pale in comparison to Kitchen Confidential.

Does the fact that it's written by someone with a front-of-house perspective make it any fresher?

Yeah, it'd be a different perspective, and I think I read through a lot of stories on Waiter Rant a long time ago. But having been a busboy for a stint and having worked closely with the waitstaff, I think the kitchen is where most of the true fun and horror is had. ;)

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dvs

dvs

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Do we think this will make a good read?

No. I think it'd really pale in comparison to Kitchen Confidential.

Does the fact that it's written by someone with a front-of-house perspective make it any fresher?

Yeah, it'd be a different perspective, and I think I read through a lot of stories on Waiter Rant a long time ago. But having been a busboy for a stint and having worked closely with the waitstaff, I think the kitchen is where most of the true fun and horror is had. ;)

they're BOTH incredibly fun & twisted. you just have to be at the right ones with the right group of psychos *cough* i mean staffs :wink:

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cmvnapa

cmvnapa

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I've read waiterrant for some time and find it AND the comments educational and amusing.

But the comment about how blogs translate to books is a valid one. I loved Julie Powell's blog, not so much the book. I like dooce, the go fug yourself girls, April Winchell, and there are a couple of unfertile myrtle blogs that have been extremely well-written and funny(So Close, A Little Pregnant), but I wouldn't necessarily pay for a book by the same writers, especially if it's a rehash of something I've already read.

The amateur gourmet has a book in the works but it sounds as though he's just following recipes from other cookbooks and writing commentary...? Nothing I'd pay for, either.

Guess my aim in reading blogs is to read the different and amusing, and I always click or chuck - ads or dough under the PayPal button.

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Megan Blocker

Megan Blocker

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No slam against this author-- the book may turn out fine-- but I've yet to read a book based on a blog that didn't suffer from the transition, in my opinion.  I'd love to hear of some examples that people think are really good.

That's how I felt about Julie and Julia. The blog felt spontaneous and real; the book felt forced and contrived. IMHO, of course.

"We had dry martinis; great wing-shaped glasses of perfumed fire, tangy as the early morning air." - Elaine Dundy, The Dud Avocado

Queenie Takes Manhattan

eG Foodblogs: 2006 - 2007

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tmgrobyn

tmgrobyn

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I've had WaiterRant bookmarked as a daily read for two+ years. I have been entertained by him continuously. Reason being is that he is not only a FOH master, but also a divinity school drop out and psych ward (employee) refugee. His take on the human condition is excellent.

I enjoy his ability to see beyond the person he serves and take it to a higher level of service. Anyone can get angry and not care about the faceless people they serve. It takes creatvity to use pens sponsored by drug companies to his customers for check signing. His viagra pen alone is worth worth pages and pages of literary prose. :shock:

Edited by tmgrobyn (log)
"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly."
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