If You Can't Take the Heat
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If You Can't Take the Heat
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Narrated by:
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Dan Bittner
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By:
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Michael Ruhlman
About this listen
From James Beard Award-winning author Michael Ruhlman, a coming-of-age story about finding a new life and love in the kitchen…and trying not to get burned along the way.
When high school football star Theo Claverback breaks his leg just weeks after a devastating break-up, he’s forced to call an audible on his summer plans and put his college ones on hold. He soon finds himself in the most unlikely of places for a jock on crutches: the kitchen of an upscale French restaurant, where he’ll work as a prep cook while his heart and leg heal.
But it’s in the kitchen where Theo finds new purpose and a new romance. As he becomes a trusted employee to Chef and is welcomed into his inner circle, Theo begins to discover the true costs of running a restaurant—and what happens when you get into hot water with the wrong people.
Set in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1980, If You Can't Take the Heat is a gritty look inside the belly of an upscale kitchen where love and danger boil behind closed doors.
©2024 Michael Ruhlman (P)2024 Listening LibraryCritic reviews
"Food writer Ruhlman employs exacting verisimilitude to bring the heat of the kitchen and sensory details of the dishes to life in this vivacious debut."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"This human story is the book’s real strength, as is the care given to detailing the operations inside a restaurant kitchen, lending power and authenticity."—Booklist
"A refreshingly different take on the romance genre, written from the male perspective, and a great purchase for all libraries."—School Library Journal
What listeners say about If You Can't Take the Heat
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Betsy O’Neill
- 07-24-24
Finding a true love!
I loved the homage to Cleveland and the combination of teenage angst with the simplicity of life before computers and social media. Although the reader might think that the story is about Theo’s first great love, the real love affair is Theo’s journey towards his love of cooking and the restaurant community. In a world where The Bear commands many viewers, discussions and multiple awards, viewers and readers are intoxicated with the restaurant world. Ruhlman’s novel captures Theo’s initial spark and continued passion of the culinary community. I was hooked and was interested in Theo’s next step because he certainly learned he could handle the heat!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Marcia
- 06-07-24
More, please!
I read The Making of a Chef when it was first published and it was literally the start of my ADDICTION to cooking & restaurant stories. Absolutely loved it! Michael Ruhlman does an amazing job of making you feel like you're actually experiencing what he writes. Like you're actually there in the kitchen, with sweat on your brow!
I was ecstatic with The Soul of a Chef, and The Reach of a Chef was also very good. I've been desperately seeking out books like this since then. I've read hundreds and there's no other author that can do it as well.
It seems the "stories" ended and there were only cookbooks & food books from Ruhlman. Cooking shows weren't a big thing yet and it was very difficult to maintain my fantasy of working in a professional kitchen.
Many years and tears later, I'm now a professional chef myself and I still adore these stories!
I was SO happy when I discovered that If You Can't Stand the Heat was a story. Also, I absolutely adore the audiobook narrator! He's so perfect. I wish this was Ruhlman's first book, because it's such a phenomenal first introduction to the addiction and the life!
The ONLY complaint I have is that it's ONLY an 8 hour audiobook and a good portion of the beginning was just about the teenage love affair. I loved the interweaving of the personal and professional stories, I just wanted MORE! I LOVE everything that happens IN the kitchen. Even the smallest details of prep, cooking, and life of a professional chef are so interesting. Clearly the whole world seems to be on board with this based on all the new TV networks & shows.
I can find food and recipe books aplenty - more stories, please! Fiction and nonfiction both appreciated! 🙏❤️
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