Booklist Review

Successful London restaurateur himself, Lander explores just what skills and qualities a restaurateur needs to rise above the pack and achieve greatness in this highly diverse and competitive profession. Profiling 20 restaurateurs from Europe and America, Lander briefly tells their stories and then tries to identify each one's special gifts. In the case of New York's Italian empire builder, Joe Bastianich, it's a lifetime spent learning to minimize waste and to inspire everyone who works for him. For London's Russell Norman, clothing is key: absolute formality in his high-end eatery and studied casual garb in his gastropub. Norman also publishes sets of written rules to ensure staff's unwavering respect for customers. Family is often key to success as evidenced by the fourth generation of Troisgros offspring to run their fabled provincial French restaurant. Elegantly simple line drawings complement the stylishness of Lander's prose portraits.--Knoblauch, Mark Copyright 2010 Booklist