{"product_id":"im-not-trying-to-be-difficult-stories-from-the-restaurant-trenches","title":"I'm Not Trying to Be Difficult: Stories from the Restaurant Trenches","description":"\u003ctable align=\"center\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" cellspacing=\"0\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"productDetailSmallElements\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBrief Description\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Drew Nieporent has been a staple of the New York dining scene for decades, establishing a host of iconic restaurants like Nobu, Tribeca Grille, and Montrachet. But his career started from much more humble beginnings-the grill at the local McDonald's. A middle-class kid from New York's East Side, Drew spent his childhood tagging along with his father to help restaurants get their liquor license, igniting a lifelong obsession with food. His passion took him on a winding, continent-spanning journey, crossing paths with legendary chefs, iconic athletes, and movie stars as he grew into one of the most influential names in the culinary world. From waiting tables on a cruise ship to getting his first three-star review; from squabbling with Cornell professors to partnering with Robert De Niro; this is more than a story of one man's extraordinary life-it's a story of an evolving industry. As culinary trends come and go and relationships blossom and combust, Nieporent navigates it all with a simple yet powerful philosophy: Give the customer what they want. Told in Drew's unforgettable voice, \"I'm Not Trying To Be Difficult\" is a rollicking memoir that feels like sitting across the dinner table from someone who has seen it all-one of the last great restaurateurs\"-- Provided by publisher.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Drew Nieporent is a born storyteller. Lively and inviting, he brings the frenzy and excitement of the New York dining scene to life with the same energy and warmth he's brought to his restaurants throughout his incredible career.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e -- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eHarlan Coben\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"I've always enjoyed listening to Drew talk about his New York. I admire his ability to be honest about what he's going through. His opinions, insights, successes and failures are never a secret. Through his experiences, young restaurateurs can gain some great insights into the world of restaurants.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e -- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eRich Melman\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"I devoured Drew Nieporent's delicious memoir, \n\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eI'm Not Trying to Be Difficult\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, the page-turning story of a restaurateur's restaurateur, whose insatiable appetites for food, hospitality, showmanship, and winning have fueled one of our industry's most legendary characters and careers.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e -- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eDanny Meyer, Author of Setting the Table, the Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Everyone who cares about food knows that Drew Nieporent is one of the people who changed American restaurants. In this startlingly honest memoir he takes you behind the kitchen door to show you how the business really works. If you go out to eat, you need this book.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e -- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eRuth Reichl\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Drew is the consummate restaurateur of our generation and one of the all time best storytellers. \n\u003ci\u003eI'm Not Trying to be Difficult \u003c\/i\u003ewill give readers the \"behind the scenes\" we've all been waiting for.\"-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eBobby Flay, chef\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Drew is the ultimate diplomat of the restaurant world. He's seen it all, the highs and lows of some of the greatest restaurants to ever exist--and here he's sharing it with the rest of us.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e -- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eJosé Andrés\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThere's no one quite like Drew Nierporent. In his deeply personal memoir, \n\u003ci\u003eI'm Not Trying to Be Difficult\u003c\/i\u003e, he offers an honest and uplifting look into his journey as a pioneering restaurateur in New York City. He shares the challenges and successes of building a culinary empire through engaging and nostalgic anecdotes, highlighting the resilience and personal growth required in the restaurant industry. With humor and insight, Nieporent's memoir is a tribute to his experiences and an inspiration for those pursuing their profession. \n\u003cbr\u003e -- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThomas Keller\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Drew Nieporent is a true legend of the restaurant world, a visionary whose passion, perseverance, and deep love for hospitality have shaped the dining landscape for decades. In this compelling memoir, he shares the extraordinary journey that took him from waiting tables to becoming one of the most influential restaurateurs of our time. For anyone who loves food, restaurants, or simply a great tale of ambition, this book is a must-read.\"-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eEric Ripert\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBiographical Note\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDrew Nieporent, one of America's most respected and celebrated restaurateurs, is the founder and inspiration behind the Myriad Restaurant Group, which opened and operated Nobu New York, Nobu London, Tribeca Grill, Rubicon, Corton, Bâtard, Daily Burger at Madison Square Garden, and many more. Nieporent's groundbreaking first restaurant, Montrachet, earned three stars from The New York Times and kept that rating for twenty-one years. He has partnered with Robert DeNiro, Robin Williams, and Francis Ford Coppola, among others. He has also won multiple James Beard Awards. \n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Foodies and celebrity watchers alike will enjoy Nieporent's culinary adventures and misadventures.\"\u003c\/p\u003e-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Restaurants still give Nieporent joy. And at its best, \n\u003ci\u003eI'm Not Trying to Be Difficult\u003c\/i\u003e makes us rediscover and share that joy.\"-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher Marketing\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eA USA TODAY BESTSELLER\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Drew Nieporent has been a staple of the New York dining scene for decades, establishing a host of iconic restaurants like Nobu, Tribeca Grill, and Montrachet. But his career started from much more humble beginnings--the grill at the local McDonald's. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e A middle class kid from New York's East Side, Drew spends his childhood tagging along with his father to help restaurants get their liquor license, igniting a lifelong obsession with food. His passion takes him on a winding, continent-spanning journey, crossing paths with legendary chefs, iconic athletes, and movie stars as he grows into one of the most influential names in the culinary world. From waiting tables on a cruise ship to getting his first three-star review; from squabbling with Cornell professors to partnering with Robert DeNiro; this is more than a story of one man's extraordinary life--it's a story of an evolving industry. As culinary trends come and go, and relationships blossom and combust, Nieporent navigates it all with a simple yet powerful philosophy: give the customer what they want. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Told in Drew's unforgettable voice, \n\u003ci\u003eI'm Not Trying To Be Difficult\u003c\/i\u003e is a rollicking memoir that feels like sitting across the dinner table from someone who has seen it all--one of the last great restaurateurs.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/span\u003e 07\/15\/2025 (EAN 9781538765579, Hardcover)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eShelf Awareness\u003c\/span\u003e 09\/28\/2025 (EAN 9781538765579, Hardcover)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Nieporent, Drew\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Grand Central Publishing\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePub Date:\u003c\/b\u003e 2025-09-23\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBISAC:\u003c\/b\u003e Biography \u0026amp; Autobiography|Culinary|Cooking|Essays \u0026amp; Narratives|Biography \u0026amp; Autobiography|Business\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSubjects:\u003c\/b\u003e Nieporent, Drew|Restaurateurs|New York|New York (N.Y.)|New York (State)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.1 lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781538765579\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eASIN:\u003c\/b\u003e -\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSKU:\u003c\/b\u003e SP-9781538765579\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Grand Central Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51154369347862,"sku":"SP-9781538765579","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0857\/9910\/8886\/files\/9781538765579_spiral.png?v=1774943362","url":"https:\/\/lusper.myshopify.com\/products\/im-not-trying-to-be-difficult-stories-from-the-restaurant-trenches","provider":"Lusperbooks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}