I'm Not Trying To Be Difficult: Stories from the Restaurant Trenches

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 beginningsthe grill at the local McDonalds.A middle class kid from New Yorks 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 mans extraordinary lifeits 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 Drews unforgettable voice, Im Not Trying To Be Difficult is a rollicking memoir that feels like sitting across the dinner table from someone who has seen it allone of the last great restaurateurs.