Hypothetical Question: What would happen if you put 100 of the world's finest chefs all in one room and started a conversation about their profession? Answer: You would get the bracing and invigorating rhetorical exchange found in this book. Fasten your apron strings, "Kitchen Existential" is a rollicking roller-coaster ride, an entertaining, enlightening, back-of-the-house view of the high-stakes world of the restaurant chef, offered in delectable, bite-size portions, peppered liberally with wit and insight. Think of this opuscule -- a delicious confection in its own right -- as a sampling of opinions and perspectives acquired in a world where stockpots boil, saute pans sizzle, and tempers often run hot during the long hours of intense stress and painstaking attention to detail. You are certain to find pearls of wisdom courtesy of the people who turn mealtimes into opportunities for delight and surprise, on the mastery of food and flavor, preparing and sharing, on the culinary profession and hospitality industry. Anyone wondering what it's like to live as a chef, and anyone who is wondering if they should, must read this book.

The cocktail goes in and out of fashion, and home bartenders need to replace their mixology recipes regularly to account for newly invented cocktails and rediscovered old ones. The Latin Quarter Souvenir Book of Cocktails covers the range of drinks served by Lou Walters' professional barmen at the legendary night clubs in Boston, New York, and Miami Beach. Included are 100 essential recipes, all well worthy of inclusion in a cocktail reference book and a glimpse into the nearly forgotten nightlife of the 1940s. This book preserves the glamour of Lou Walters' beloved Latin Quarter and the old-school artistry performed behind its bars. Includes vintage illustrations of the famous Latin Quarter showgirls.