Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly

The bonus was based on Trader Joe’s overall profit, allocated among the stores based on each store’s contribution. Sure, we massaged the numbers to avoid perceived unfairness, but that was basically the system. In 1988, several Captains made bonuses of more than 70 percent of their base pay. And our 15.4 percent retirement accrual applied to bonuse

I've been writing this stuff for much the same reasons behind my frenetic traveling: Because I can. Because there's so little time. Because there's been so much to see and remember. Because I always think for sure the next book or the next show will tank, and I better make some fucking money while I can.

“I had a period after I left a restaurant I was working at,” Redzepi said, “where everyone treated me as if I was a stranger to them. *Leave. Stay away. Now we’re competitors.*That kind of thing. And it was a terrible experience. It was just a terrible experience. And I promised myself never to be that. Never to create that experience for anyone el

“I mostly go to restaurants I know and love now, because I know I’m going to be leaving New York fairly soon. Whereas a couple years ago I moved to Pune, India, and I just would eat friggin’ everywhere that didn’t look like it was gonna kill me. And as I was leaving the city I went back to all my old favorites, rather than trying out new stuff.… Ev