Okay by read, I mean an audio book I listened to. Heat is a true story about the author Bill Buford who was writing and editing for New Yorker magazine. One day he throws a birthday dinner party for a friend and invites Mario Batali, who he didn't think would show up. Mario and he become friends and Bill asks to become a kitchen slave at Babbo, Batali's flagship restaurant. He thought he had some cooking skills but he really learns the difference between home and pro cooks. Later in the book he makes trips to Italy, learning pasta making from Batali's teacher. Later in Italy he starts an apprenticeship to a Dante quoting butcher. Not a new book but it is great if you want to step into someone else's shoes for a while. The narrator on this audio book was great, Michael Kramer totally took me on the theatre of the mind journey.
Here is an embeded video from the Charlie Rose Show where he talks to Bill Buford, great stories.