false 3 1 false false Wed Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Sat Nov 29 15:59:27 -0800 2008 Mon Dec 29 09:46:33 -0800 2008
My issue with the book is with the essays. Given the writing talents of the food writers involved &#151 Michael Ruhlman, Jeffrey Steingarten, Mark McCluskey and Michael Nagrant &#151 the essays are mainly rehashes of better articles each has written about the Alinea dining experience and Grant Achatz's evolution as a chef. With Achatz's much-publicized recent battle with tongue cancer adding a necessary humanizing element to the aloof and overly serious chef, I expected more of Ruhlman's essay than the standard parallels of Achatz's culinary awakening to a existential journey.

The book could have been a chance to break down the barrier separating Achatz the presumed mad genius and Achatz the man. The Alinea team saved that for the complementary Alinea Mosaic website. There, owners of the book can participate in forums and engage in discussions with members of the Alinea team. I wished that this informality transferred onto the page, but understand the rationale for keeping the two separate-but-equal.]]>