Culinary Leverage: A Journey Through the Heat is about exposing the dysfunction of an industry through the eyes of a highly decorated chef who, through hard-won experience, resilience and grief, soul searching and moments of reckoning, finds a healthier way forward, not just for himself but for the restaurant business as a whole. Travel with Chef Keane as his passion for hard work and cooking is ignited as a young kid growing up in Dearborn, Michigan. Cheer for him as he follows his dream to the gritty but seductive streets and kitchens of New York City and realizes his vocation. Empathize with him as he encounters and confronts bullies and egos hell-bent on destroying the dream. And root for him as he charges forth with a revolutionary new approach and strives to create an unparalleled magical journey at Cyrus for his guests and team, one based on style and substance with a conscience and connection.
The reviews are in…
“Chef Doug Keane has written an inspiring tale of dreaming big, succeeding against all odds, and upending an industry in the process. His voice on the page is raw, humble, and darkly funny."
—Chef Jacques Pepin
"It is a rare gift to know someone as talented, humble and self-aware as Chef Doug Keane. In the two decades since I met him, he has not only proven himself a master innovator in our industry, but, perhaps more importantly, a thought leader, pushing us gently and purposefully towards a higher standard of kindness, empathy and resilience."
—Gail Simmons, food expert, TV host and author of Bringing It Home
“Honest. Eye-opening. Harrowing. Brilliant. Douglas Keane’s Culinary Leverage is a deeply grabbing look at the travails and high points of one of the world’s best chefs. Anyone who thinks perfection comes easy, in any domain from food to law, business to music, should read this book. An homage to grittiness and sheer will, Douglas’ story will stay with you for years.”
—Neal Katyal, former acting solicitor general of the United States
Douglas Keane, a thirty-year veteran of fine dining, is a Michelin-starred, James Beard Award– and Top Chef Masters–winning chef/owner of the groundbreaking Cyrus restaurant in Sonoma County, California. After attending Cornell University’s prestigious School of Hotel Administration and learning his craft in the best kitchens in New York City, Chef Keane moved west to further his career and follow his dreams. Using his observant nature and analytical brain, he envisioned a better way forward for the restaurant industry, and in 2022 that idea turned into proof of concept. He lives in Sonoma County, just a few minutes’ walk from Cyrus.
All books by this author | Visit author website
All books by this author | Visit author website