Delancey - Molly Wizenberg

Delancey

Title: Delancey: A Man, a Woman, a Restaurant, a Marriage

Author: Molly Wizenberg

Publication Date: 5/1/14

Pages: 241

Genre: Food / Memoir / Nonfiction

How I Found It: You know me and food memoirs...

Date Completed: 4/12/15

Summary: Wizenberg recalls the years she and her husband spent getting their pizza restaurant from a concept to a reality.

What I Thought: Sometimes memoir subtitles irritate me. They can be too long or too pithy or downright misleading. Somehow, the subtitle for Delancy (A Man, A Woman, A Restaurant, A Marriage) sums things up perfectly while avoiding those pitfalls. It truly is the best way to summarize the book.

Wizenberg's stories of how Delancey the restaurant came to be are charming and down to earth. She and her husband come across as people you could really be friends with - particularly if you love food as they do. 

I loved learning their pizza inspiration came from Di Fara Pizza in NYC. Kevin, who had the chance to go once while in college, has forever idolized the place and describes it as a practically mythical experience. Even a mention of the famous pizzaria makes me drool. To know that Delancey styles their pizza after the famous slice...well, it makes me want Delancey pizza, too. Of course, the whole book made me want Delancey pizza. The dedicated put in at each step is something its easy to take for granted in a restaurant experience. You don't think about the dozens of variations of sauce the chef may have tried before landing on the right one. You just savor. And, gosh, do I ever want to savor some pizza after reading this book.

I appreciated Wizenberg's truthful telling of their story. She didn't try to glitz it up. She told the good and the bad and painted herself as the antagonist of the whole thing more than once. The story did not get bowled over with personal details, nor did the pizza experimentation take center stage for over extended increments. Rather, the book was well balanced, a light and enjoyable read. 

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Will I Re-Read: Probably not.

If You Liked This Try: Bon Appétempt / Blood, Bones, and Butter / Lunch in Paris

A Reduced Review: Love, life, and pizza take center stage in this charming, down to earth food-centered memoir.