Food Rocks: The Real-Life, Near-Death Tales of a True RockNRoll Chef

by Simon Dickinson

The world of Rock and Roll overflows with more decadence than you can shake a coke vial sex, drugs, booze, more sex, music and… food. Yes, food. Before the legends take the stage, they need their high-protein, low-fat, gluten-free, carbo-loaded favorite foods. And they need a lot of it; more food than you’ll see at a billionaire’s bar mitzvah or a king’s coronation. The deli tray at a Kiss concert could feed most of Toronto and it’s delicious as hell.
Prince needs his tofu. Iggy wants his steaks. Clinton is hanging around the waitress station, picking off the hors d’oeuvres. If they’re rock celebrity/stars and they’re hungry, they call Simon.
Simon Dickinson is the RockNRoll Chef – brilliant, eccentric, edgy and gifted, Simon hits the road when the rock gods need their ambrosia. Simon bakes and bastes, fricasees and flambes, Simon even concocts his own special protein/energy shakes for the top rockers of all time. He is the man when the masses need the manna.
The Real-Life, Near-Death Tales of the RockNRoll Chef goes backstage at some of the biggest rock extravaganzas of the past twenty years, providing a sneak peek behind the scenes of the greatest shows on earth. The tales range from the ridiculous to the outrageous and back again, with more than a few road-kills in between. Simon also includes the favorite recipes he has created for the gods of rock, everyone from Muse to Prince, The Rolling Stones, Journey and more.

The Real-Life, Near-Death Tales of the RockNRoll Chef is a cross-over book, beginning with foodies of all types while bridging over into baby boomer rock fans. Written in a terse, hilarious and ripping style, it’s an edgy read with recipes as a bonus. Given its focus on food, rock and roll and celebrities of the first magnitude, RockNRoll Chef will attract readers across a spectrum of celebrity followers to foodies to general interest audiences.


Author Simon Dickinson is literally The RockNRoll Chef, having cooked for Rock Royalty, the Royal Family and Mega Celebrities around the world including The Rolling Stones, Prince, the Clintons, Lollapalooza and many more.
Simon began his culinary career in 1976, studying at Westminster Culinary School and then hitting the road with music acts of all kinds. After a stint as stage manager for the renowned Knebworth Concerts, Chef Dickinson segued into the definitive authority on rock ‘n roll food services.
Born in Tonbridge, Kent in the year 1959, Simon spent his formative years in an entertainment family. His grandfather Bob Aylwin was a renowned publicity agent for Billy Smarts Circus, traveling Europe during war and peace, building audiences through the business of show. Simon’s Mum and Grandpa nurtured the Foodie in Simon, providing him with the artistry which would rule his life.
Today, Simon creates culinary masterpieces dedicated to the health and nutrition needs of celebrities and stars. They know, when they hire Simon, the food will be as healthy as it is delicious. Busy with his books and upcoming television series, Simon builds each project into new rock tours as part of his growing multimedia empire.


Keywords – Celebrity Chef, Chef, Rock and Roll, Rolling Stones, Journey, Prince, Food, RocknRoll, Culinary, Concerts, Backstage

160 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 6, 2017

Reviews

[Cat]

Hmmm... I remember some of the nonsense about food and rock bands back in the 70's. I don't know what I was thinking when I requested this one. I seem to forget to age myself, it seems, or assume everyone is a baby boomer when I checkout books like these (about rock stars..) Anyway, it wasn't EXACTLY what I was expecting, but it was an alright read. It was interesting reading about Dickinson's catering to the top's career and how he manages it all. Had no idea who many of the bands were, much beyond 1985, I was too busy to pay attention (life, husband, kid) to music. Then a career of my own in the 90's (MTV rock videos got my attention for a while) but then radio as I knew it, seems to have died... so, I hear names of singer or band of the hour and generally have no clue as to who they are or what they sing... Foodie fans of chefs and maybe rock bands will enjoy this read more than I did.

[Teresa]

Chef Simon Dickinson is not just any chef feeding the average gorup of people. He feeds all the Rock n Roll Kings and Queens all over the world. This book takes you to his back stage kitchens where he lets his magic with food go to work. He also adds some recipes for us to try out. Just think you could be making and eating some of the same foods as your favorite bands.

I would of liked some more in depth tales but all in all the book is good. Chef Simon has a great sense of humor and will have you laughing out loud throughout the book as well as drooling over some of his creations. Oh yea and there are pictures!!

I received this book from the Author or Publisher via Netgalley.com and chose to leave this review.

[Janice]

This was a fairly interesting book. I guess I was expecting more "inside" information. It didn't "rock" enough for me. Capably written.
My thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.