California Soul: An American Epic of Cooking and Survival
- Downloads：1086
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-08-19 03:21:36
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Keith Corbin
- ISBN：059324382X
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
Reviews
Thomas Kelley
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Chef Keith Corbin tells his story growing up as he says literally in the Drug game in the area of Watts。 He was taught early on that family is family and he did have some stability form his granny the kind of Grandma you know who feeds the whole neighborhood。 If you are not from the area of Watts or Compton， he gives a detailed description of the area and the projects and how in the projects it was its own thriving underground business like a strip mall。 After relative got tired of him asking fo Chef Keith Corbin tells his story growing up as he says literally in the Drug game in the area of Watts。 He was taught early on that family is family and he did have some stability form his granny the kind of Grandma you know who feeds the whole neighborhood。 If you are not from the area of Watts or Compton， he gives a detailed description of the area and the projects and how in the projects it was its own thriving underground business like a strip mall。 After relative got tired of him asking for money showed him how to earn his own money and this led him into what have to do to make money when you have limited opportunities。 The author pulls no punches of his descriptions of dealing， being in a gang and being in prison where he may have ended up gaining some of his cooking chops。 This is a good redemption story as well as a good story of Chef giving back to his communities。 It was definitely a quick read。 。。。more
Leslie
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"LATimes，" August 14， 2022 "LATimes，" August 14， 2022 。。。more
Carla Bayha
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Chefs and line cooks often burn out by the time they are forty。 The physical demands of the job--the standing all day in noise and heat， the cuts and skin burns， the incredibly heavy pans in awkward places--there aren't many indoor jobs that take a greater toll on a body。 So it's no wonder that it's hard to find people that will work in that environment。 Except maybe those from the worst indoor job of all--being a prisoner in an overcrowded， unsafe US jail， where keeping your body strong is a m Chefs and line cooks often burn out by the time they are forty。 The physical demands of the job--the standing all day in noise and heat， the cuts and skin burns， the incredibly heavy pans in awkward places--there aren't many indoor jobs that take a greater toll on a body。 So it's no wonder that it's hard to find people that will work in that environment。 Except maybe those from the worst indoor job of all--being a prisoner in an overcrowded， unsafe US jail， where keeping your body strong is a matter of protection and mental health。 This is a remarkable memoir about how a maximum security prisoner --a crack cocaine cooking， drug trafficking， addict --kept his cocaine habits and a job in multiple restaurant kitchens， eventually making it to top chef and restaurateur to the stars。 There is a refreshing gritty， honesty to Corbin's story about young gangs， idealistic patrons， and second and third chances。 。。。more
Katie
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I learned so much from this book - a lot about the housing and economic discrimination that has existed/exists in LA， about gang and prison life， and how hard it can be to break out of those systems， about the artistry of cooking， and mostly （the relatable part for me） about how you have to come to terms with your past。 And I hope to one day try the fried chicken at Alta - it sounds amazing！
Diana Bianchini
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This memoir was riveting！！ I am floored and inspired by the massive act in vulnerability of Chef Corbin - sharing many real tragic and traumatic details， his feelings， his wrongs and his rights。 Wow。I also see this as a love story。。。love of himself， his family， his community， Los Angeles， and his cooking。Highly recommend reading this memoir。 I have never read an autobiography like this in my life。 I came away so inspired and with a greater understanding of so much。
Georgia Slattery
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I really enjoyed this book。 It was hard to put down。 Keith Corbin does not hold back when telling his life story。
Kayla Tornello
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This book offers an honest， nothing held back look at Keith Corbin's life。 He had a rough childhood and was involved with drugs from an early age。 He ended up in prison。 When he got out， he struggled with addiction。 In the end， he became sober and found his calling as a chef。 His story is really interesting and inspiring。I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway。 Yay！ This book offers an honest， nothing held back look at Keith Corbin's life。 He had a rough childhood and was involved with drugs from an early age。 He ended up in prison。 When he got out， he struggled with addiction。 In the end， he became sober and found his calling as a chef。 His story is really interesting and inspiring。I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway。 Yay！ 。。。more
Randal White
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