Eat a Peach – by David Chang

This is an amazing book!

World renowned chef David Chang, of Momofuku fame, recounts the ups and downs of his career, from deciding to start his own Ramen shop in New York City (at a time when Ramen was all but a blip on everyone’s culinary radar), to accumulating global recognition. 

At first, we thought this would be a book centering around David Chang’s racial struggles in the culinary world; being that he’s an Asian American man working in a predominantly white industry. However, this was not the case and, if anything, his background gave him an edge within the scene at the time, since there was little diversity in terms of food choices being brought to the table. With a longing for the simple but sophisticated experiences gained from eating in Ramen shops in Japan, he set out to open the first Momofuku Noodle Bar in 2004.

Chang discusses the struggles of starting a business, of having limited resources, of being ill-prepared to handle the pressure, and of the long hours toiling away in a facility which seemed to be falling apart around him. He talks about the decision to not cater to the crowd, but to forge their own path through food – and risk facing ridicule. It’s a beautiful picture, but only in hindsight; reflected through wisdom gained from the many failings behind closed doors. This is a candid book, and Chang does not shy away from discussing his shortcomings, such as his reliance on drinking, his disdain for colleagues valuing their personal lives over their work lives, and the general sense of being an impostor, who is lucky to have made it this far and totally undeserving of his successes. 

Whether you’re a foodie, someone working in F&B, a business-owner, or a fan of David Chang, this is a must read. 

Available now in both hardcover and paperback.

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