Rick Tramanto started as a high school dropout with a learning disability and a drug addiction, but he has become one of the top celebrity chefs in the world. In Scars of a Chef, Tramanto tells his story, all the highs and lows, and how God met him when he needed it most. He also shares recipes, and 8 pages of color photos.

Average Customer Rating:

3.6

out of

(5 Reviews) 5

Rating Snapshot (5 reviews)

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4 out of 580%customers would recommend this product to a friend.

Customer Reviews for Scars of a Chef: One Man's Journey through Fire to Faith

Review 1 for Scars of a Chef: One Man's Journey through Fire to Faith

Overall Rating:

4 out of 5

New Insights into the Culinary World

Date:March 15, 2011

Anonymous

Top 25 Contributor

Location:Savannah, GA

Quality:

5 out of 5

Value:

4 out of 5

Meets Expectations:

3 out of 5

Until I read "Scars of a Chef," I thought anyone who could follow a recipe could cook. I’ve persisted in this belief for years, though personal experience has told me differently. Perhaps I should have put two and two together: cooking is not an exact science, but rather a grand science experiment. Rick Tramonto (along with other chefs mentioned in his book) is an extraordinary food scientist.

I was amazed at the amount of work required to learn how to cook like he does. His story is fascinating—of studying for decades to become the master chef he is and of his spiritual development along the way. I may not be a foodie, but I learned much about them while reading this book.

And his testimony just about made me cry. I love learning the stories of how Christ draws people to Himself. These reaffirm my own faith and prompt me to pray all the harder for loved ones who haven’t come to know Jesus—yet.

As a bonus, Tramonto closes each chapter with a recipe.

If you enjoy inspirational biographies, whether or not you cook well, I recommend this book to you! Thank you, Tyndale House Publishers, for sending it for my review.

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Review 2 for Scars of a Chef: One Man's Journey through Fire to Faith

Overall Rating:

4 out of 5

Inspiring

Date:March 5, 2011

MaureenT

Top 10 Contributor

Location:Syracuse NY

Gender:female

Quality:

4 out of 5

Value:

4 out of 5

Meets Expectations:

4 out of 5

I enjoyed reading Rick's life story and glad that he has more to go. Even when he wasn't a believer early in his life I can see God's hand in there! He had a rough time as a child, his parents home was very dysfunctional. Am glad that he did have the support of loving Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and cousins.
He is an over achiever, the amount of time he put into honing his craft, and the success he achieved. He is a very inspiring man, and willing to do all that he could to learn to be the very best!
I loved that the book included pictures, putting faces to the people that are talked about in the book. Also included are some yummy recipes though out!
A must read of any young aspiring chefs!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

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Review 3 for Scars of a Chef: One Man's Journey through Fire to Faith

Overall Rating:

4 out of 5

The American Dream is still alive

Date:March 3, 2011

D C McKay

Location:Gadsden, AL

Age:45-54

Gender:male

Quality:

3 out of 5

Value:

4 out of 5

Meets Expectations:

4 out of 5

It was like sitting with him looking over scrap books and old photos. Asking, "How did this all happen?" It is a wild ride through Rick Tramonto's life. A look inside of fine dining. Big chances, big egos, big money with only your name and reputation which can come crashing down with just one bad review. I am not a cook but found it fascinating to learn the ends and outs of this fast paced high stakes industry. Attitude and a tough skin is required. Chef Tramonto holds nothing back. He is not the clean kid doing everything right kind of guy. It is a true American story of rags to riches back and forth. From nothing to something to having to do it all over again and again. This book is an inspiration to us all.

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale Publishing.

http://bac4295.blogspot.com/2011/03/scars-of-chef.html

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Review 4 for Scars of a Chef: One Man's Journey through Fire to Faith

Overall Rating:

4 out of 5

Scars of a Chef

Date:February 26, 2011

Vicky

Top 250 Contributor

Location:Lafayette, Indiana

Age:55-65

Gender:female

Quality:

4 out of 5

Value:

4 out of 5

Meets Expectations:

4 out of 5

I just finished Scars of a Chef by Rick Tramonto and was impressed. It was one of those books that wasn't great, it was just interesting. I had never heart of Rick and he is a well known chef, especially in the Midwest.
The synopsis of the book sounded like a good read, which it was. It was one of those books that held your interest throughout.
The story starts out with Rick's childhood struggles of being an only child with a strange blend of parents. He did drugs, alcohol, skipped school and was ejected from three schools because of fighting. He started at Wendy's as a high school dropout who later was diagnosed with dyslexia. He found his niche-loved the food industry and all it entailed. He had to support his mother when his father went to prison after being involved in the mob. The book details all his different jobs as a chef and the different places he worked and finally opening a four-start restaurant. The hours-he was a workaholic-were intense and the drugs kept up but he was so empty. He knew there was more to life (he was raised in the Catholic Church) and God kept trying to get his attention. He lost his marriage, business and had to start all over again. This time he let God direct him instead of the other way around. Fun to see where he started and how "sold out" for Jesus he got finally.
It was an amazing story and not just a story for one who likes cooking. There are recipes throughout the book from his restaurants. Showed me a whole new account into the restaurant world.
Thank you Tyndale for sending me this book for free just for my honest opinion.

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Review 5 for Scars of a Chef: One Man's Journey through Fire to Faith

Overall Rating:

2 out of 5

A Book About A Man

Date:February 26, 2011

Anne

Top 50 Contributor

Location:Baltimore, MD

Age:35-44

Gender:female

Quality:

3 out of 5

Value:

2 out of 5

Meets Expectations:

1 out of 5

I picked up Scars of a Chef by Rick Tramonto with Lisa Jackson with the thought of looking for a story that would be encouraging. The cover makes the Rick Tramonto look like a very rough and tumble guy. But, that is what publicity and marketing does--its goal is to make you curious about the book and make you want to read it. Unfortunately, it can backfire if the book doesn't match the cover--which is true in this case. This is the story of a man. It is not a story primarily about God and what He has done in this man's life or about the people in Rick's life. Thoughout the book, you hear Rick's voice. I felt as if I could be talking to him. But, the book is all about what He, Rick Tramonto, did and how He, Rick Tramonto, succeeded.

I am thankful that Rick and his wife have come to know the Lord. I am glad for them. I am glad that Rick's father came to know the Lord two weeks before his death.

But, this book contains the details of Rick's life and achievements. Very detailed details. If you love food and you are curious about the world which chefs live in, then you may find the bulk of this book interesting. It began to feel very repetitious to me after the first third of the book.

This isn't a book I would recommend. It isn't a book with bad grammar or sentence structure or bad writing, per se. But, the story did become very repetitious. I didn't find what I expected when I chose to read this book. I was looking for a book that would give me insight into how someone who grew up in a very rough family found his way out (which is what the marketing led me to believe it was about). I was hoping that there would be an awareness on the a part of the author of how God helped him do that. I wasn't expecting the story of a man who indulged in drugs and alcohol for years. The inside pictures of Rick Tramonto paint a very different picture than the cover does. I don't think he's the rough guy that the front cover portrays him to be. Albeit he admits to having quite a temper, but I couldn't figure some things out about the story. Like once he realized as an adult that he has dyslexia, why didn't he get help? ...Why didn't he ever realize that the reason the marriage counselor was talking to him about the things he did wrong was that he probably did have issues he needed to work out? ...Why didn't he want to change? In this story, rather than finding encouragement and answers, I was just left with a lot of questions.

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale Publishing.

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